Shaheen Afridi shares picture with Babar Azam, dismissing rift rumors

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi shared a picture with captain Babar Azam on social media on Tuesday, captioning it "family" after rumors of a dressing room rift between the two players began circulating during the 2023 Asia Cup.

The rumors emerged after Pakistan was eliminated after a narrow last-ball defeat to Sri Lanka in an intensely competitive match during the Asia Cup. 

According to reports in the media, a heated verbal altercation occurred between Babar and Shaheen during a post-match team meeting.

Media reports suggested that Babar expressed dissatisfaction with the performances of some senior players, prompting Shaheen to encourage Babar to acknowledge the contributions of those who had performed well. This exchange reportedly led to Mohammad Rizwan stepping in to mediate the situation.

However, Shaheen's latest post on social media appears to have put an end to these rumors. The picture shows Shaheen and Babar posing together, playing chess on a table, with the caption "family."

family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VjKAFOTIE5

— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 19, 2023

Shaheen's post has been well-received by fans and media alike, with many people praising him for dismissing the rift rumors. It is worth noting that Shaheen's wedding with former captain Shahid Afridi's daughter is set to take place on Tuesday in Karachi.