Shaheen Shah Afridi’s response to reports of a conflict with Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, on Tuesday, September 19, was quite telling. Following Pakistan’s elimination from the 2023 Asia Cup due to their defeat by Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage, rumours swirled about a heated exchange between the two cricketers within the team’s dressing room.
Allegedly, their relationship had soured significantly. However, Shaheen has recently put an end to these speculations. To address these rumours, Shaheen took to his Instagram account, posting a picture of himself with Babar and captioning it with the word “Family” accompanied by a heart emoticon. This gesture was a clear attempt to dispel any notions of a feud between the two players.
Pakistan’s journey in the Asia Cup had begun promisingly with a resounding victory over Nepal in their opening match at the Multan Cricket Stadium, followed by another triumph over Bangladesh in the Super Four stage at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. However, their confidence took a severe hit when they suffered a 228-run defeat at the hands of India.
family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VjKAFOTIE5
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 19, 2023
The contest against Sri Lanka was a tense affair, with Zaman Khan needing eight runs from the final over to secure a win, but unfortunately, he fell short. Throughout the tournament, Pakistan also grappled with injury concerns, as both Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah suffered injuries, necessitating the inclusion of Zaman Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani.
Babar Azam, who began the tournament with a brilliant 151 off 131 balls against Nepal, encountered a downturn in his batting form. In contrast, Shaheen Shah Afridi showcased his bowling prowess, claiming an impressive 10 wickets, including figures of 45 for four against India in Pallekele. These contrasting performances reflected the rollercoaster ride that Pakistan experienced in the 2023 Asia Cup.
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