Article Posted on 8 November, 2023

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has lashed out over leaking alleged text message of Babar Azam.

The controversy started when former wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif claimed that the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, Zaka Ashraf, was neglecting Azam's attempts to contact him through text messages and calls.

The screenshot of an alleged conversation between Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board Salman Naseer and Babar Azam was shared on a private news channel, which erupted the controversy.

"Sorry to say but this below the belt stuff, we are tarnishing the image of our country. How can you show someone's private message on TV and that too of our captain Babar Azam," said Afridi on a private channel.

"I think Rashid bhai [Rashid Latif] was saying that Babar was calling Chairman PCB and to counter that, this ploy has been used. Why would you do such kind of stuff, is this the way to deal with it?

"Why did Shoaib Jatt bring this on TV, did the Chairman tell him to bring such things on TV? If the Chairman is somehow involved in it, I would say this is a very pathetic move from him," he added.

Pakistan had started off their World Cup campaign with wins against Netherlands and Sri Lanka but lost the plot in the next four games.

To reach the semi-final, they must win their last three matches and hope other results go their way.

They will now face Bangladesh tomorrow at the Eden Gardens Kolkata.