Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team, one of the favorites before the Asia Cup, failed to live up to its reputation and were eliminated from the Super 4 stage. The Pakistan team was also hampered by injuries to Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Although they fought to the end, Pakistan could not cross the line in a must-win match against co-hosts Sri Lanka and were shown the door.
To make matters worse, according to a Pakistani media report Bol NewsPakistan captain Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi were engaged in a war of words after the defeat against Sri Lanka. According to the report, after the loss, Babar questioned the role of the senior players in the Asia Cup 2023 campaign. However, Shaheen interrupted him and told him not to generalize or criticize those who were doing well. Babar replied that he knows very well who is doing well and who is not. The report added that Babar went to the press conference after the loss and did not speak to anyone on the way to the hotel.
However, Shaheen has quashed the rumors with a recent post. On Tuesday, Shaheen posted a photo with Babar along with the caption: “Family”.
family pic.twitter.com/VjKAFOTIE5
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 19, 2023
Kusal Mendis’ 91 and an unbeaten 49 from Charith Asalanka helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by two wickets in a last-ball thriller of the Asia Cup to set up a final clash with India. Chasing a revised DLS target of 252 in the 42-overs-a-side match in Colombo, Sri Lanka needed eight from the final over and reached the target with Asalanka’s winning hit on the last ball. A raucous home crowd rejoiced but the result broke the hearts of millions of fans waiting for a final between India and Pakistan in the 50-over tournament, a prelude to the upcoming ODI World Cup.
The loss also hurt the players of the Pakistan team, especially captain Babar Azam. The team captain’s father Azam Siddique has revealed that Babar could not even talk after Pakistan pulled out of the 2023 Asia Cup.
“Salam Pakistan. Pakistan played the entire match with half the players and lost with four to a flock on the last ball. But in this match I got to see a total superstar bowler Zaman Khan who is very could bowl well. Pressure. Win or lose. It’s a part of the team but the team played the entire competition despite being in the half,” Siddiqui wrote in an Instagram post in Urdu.
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