The defeat suffered by Pakistan at the hands of Sri Lanka during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 has left their skipper, Babar Azam, deeply frustrated and has raised concerns about team unity. Following the game, Babar Azam vented his frustrations on his teammates in the dressing room, and his displeasure was palpable. To the surprise of many, he refrained from engaging with his teammates at the team hotel after the match.
Matters took a turn for the worse when Babar Azam chose not to inform his fellow players of his departure from Sri Lanka following Pakistan’s exit from the Asia Cup. Reports from Bol News suggest that Babar Azam’s anger stemmed from the subpar performance of some of the cricketers, leading to these contentious incidents.
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Despite his composed demeanor during the post-match presentation, Babar’s emotions boiled over once he entered the dressing room. It was during this time that a heated altercation between him and the accomplished fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi erupted, necessitating the intervention of Mohammad Rizwan to defuse the situation.
This turmoil within the team comes at a critical juncture, with the ODI World Cup looming on the horizon. Babar Azam had previously been a staunch supporter of his players, urging against demoralizing anyone due to their performance. However, following the disappointing loss to Sri Lanka by just two wickets in Colombo, the dynamics within the team appear to have shifted dramatically.
On the flip side, Pakistan currently has no other bilateral series scheduled, leaving them with limited time to regroup and prepare for the upcoming mega tournament in India. They are slated to play a couple of warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia in Hyderabad before their inaugural World Cup clash against the Netherlands on October 6, on the same ground.
The time constraints for preparations are already tight, and the looming possibility of internal strife could further jeopardize Pakistan’s chances of clinching the coveted trophy. Despite holding the top spot in the ODI rankings, Pakistan finished at the bottom of the Super Four table in the Asia Cup, potentially affecting the team’s morale.
Addressing these issues promptly is crucial, not only for Pakistan’s prospects in the World Cup but also for the overall growth and stability of Pakistan cricket. Babar Azam, as the captain, will play a pivotal role in resolving these differences and ensuring the team’s focus remains on their pursuit of success on the global stage.
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