Pakistan cricket team’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam, answered a journalist’s question related to a rumor about a rift between him and ex-captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Babar felt “surprised” about the rumour as, according to him, the two professionals share a great relationship.
“I get surprised by the rumours I see on social media. Shaheen and I have a great bond. Our target is only to play and win matches for our country. Pakistan is our only priority,” Babar replied to a question at the press conference before the Pakistan-New Zealand T20I series.
Shaheen was appointed as Pakistan’s T20I captain after Babar was removed from all formats following abysmal performance in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The left-arm fast bowler’s tenure lasted one series, as Pakistan lost to New Zealand, 4-1, and Lahore Qalandars finished last in the Pakistan Super League, Season 9, under Shaheen’s captaincy.
Chairperson of Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, along with his appointed selection committee decided to reinstate Babar as the white-ball captain, cutting short Shaheen’s captaincy rein.
Pakistan is scheduled to host New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday which would also be Babar’s first match since returning as the skipper. The first three matches are scheduled for Rawalpindi before the tour departs for Lahore.