'There is no truth to the rumours of a verbal altercation' - A senior Pakistan team player denies rift between Babar Azam-Shaheen Afridi

In the wake of Pakistan's closely contested last-ball defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023, rumours of internal conflict within the Pakistan cricket team have been making the rounds in media circles. However, a senior member of the team has dismissed these speculations, emphasizing the team's unwavering focus on the game. The incident in question involved a heated exchange between Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, and their star fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, during a post-match team meeting.

Reports suggested that Babar Azam had expressed dissatisfaction with the performances of some senior players, prompting Afridi to urge him to acknowledge the efforts of those who had performed well. This situation reportedly led to Mohammad Rizwan stepping in to mediate. When approached for comment, a senior player from the team swiftly quashed these rumours.

"The team's sole focus is on cricket, and we are not concerned about the critics. Losing a match allows our critics to voice their opinions, but these are merely negative speculations," as quoted by CricketPakistan.

"In the team meeting, everyone shared their thoughts, but there is no truth to the rumours of a verbal altercation or the coaching staff needing to intervene. Everyone left the meeting together, and many teammates travelled back to Pakistan on the same flight," he further clarified.

Players' injuries are a big concern for Pakistan ahead of ODI World Cup 2023

Adding to their woes, Naseem Shah's potential absence due to a shoulder injury and concerns over Haris Rauf's fitness ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023 have created additional challenges for the team. Pakistan's upcoming journey in the World Cup, commencing on October 6 against the Netherlands. However, with these injury woes, their participation has now been clouded with uncertainties. 

As the team grapples with injuries and internal dynamics, it will be interesting to see if they regroup and focus on addressing their weaknesses to make a mark on the global stage. The much-awaited World Cup is all set to commence on October 5, in India.