Former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf denies rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi

Zaka Ashraf, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has firmly denied rumors of discord between white-ball captain Babar Azam and left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi.

In a recent interview on a local news channel, Zaka asserted that team unity has actually strengthened following Shaheen Afridi’s appointment as T20I captain.

“No, the unity didn't end after removing Babar Azam as captain,” Zaka stated.

“In fact, the unity improved. When we told him to play as a player, which is his talent, but as a captain, his performance is not good, he agreed.”

The decision to replace Zaka as captain had sparked heated debates, with critics suggesting that factionalism was affecting the squad.

Zaka, however, refuted these claims, highlighting the positive impact of leadership changes.

“There was no grouping. The team was good. And we brought Shan Masood as the captain. He was a very good captain. He is still a very good player. He is still a captain in England's counties. And I made Shaheen Shah the captain of the T20I team. That was also a very good decision,” Ashraf said.

He also praised former team director Mohammad Hafeez and other key figures within the team’s management, calling Hafeez “a very honest man” and recalling his role in supporting the coaching staff.

“And our management, along with the team, Mohammad Hafeez, an excellent cricketer, a very honest person, we brought him along. Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and these players, we brought them along so that the coaching staff is with the team,” he added.

Reflecting on the leadership transitions that have characterized Pakistan cricket, Ashraf acknowledged that such changes are common in the sport.

After Pakistan’s early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Babar Azam was stripped of his captaincy across formats. Shan Masood was appointed Test captain, and Shaheen Afridi took over as T20I captain.

However, after a disappointing series against New Zealand, Shaheen was replaced, and Babar Azam was reinstated as the white-ball captain ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the Caribbean.