Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood has firmly denied rumors of a heated exchange with fast bowler Shaheen Afridi following their team’s defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi.
Speculation emerged after Pakistan’s crushing 10-wicket loss, suggesting that tensions between Masood and Afridi led to a confrontation in the dressing room.
Reports claimed that Masood, along with head coach Jason Gillespie, had criticized the performance of the fast bowlers, particularly Afridi, which allegedly sparked the alleged clash.
Adding fuel to the fire, a viral video clip showed Afridi seemingly removing Masood’s hand from his shoulder, leading to further speculation of discord between the two players.
Addressing the media, Shan Masood dismissed the reports, clarifying that there was no altercation with Afridi. He explained that Afridi was dealing with shoulder pain, and the incident was a simple misunderstanding.
“There was no fight with Shaheen Afridi. He was feeling pain in his shoulder, and unfortunately, I placed my hand on the same shoulder,” Masood stated.
The defeat has been a significant setback for Pakistan, marking Bangladesh’s first-ever Test series win against them. After securing a 10-wicket victory in the first Test, Bangladesh clinched the series with a 2-0 sweep, chasing down 185 runs in the second Test with four wickets to spare.
This loss has severely impacted Pakistan’s chances in the World Test Championship, dropping them to eighth place, while Bangladesh has moved up to fourth.