Babar Azam-Shaheen Afridi involved In a massive Cold War, don't even speak to each other alleges Basit Ali

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, after accusing Babar Azam of favoritism, launched a fresh scathing attack on the Pakistan cricket team captain after their defeat against India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Recently, after Pakistan’s heartbreaking six-run loss to India, legendary cricketer Wasim Akram claimed that star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and captain Babar are not speaking with each other, confirming the alleged rife between the duo. Akram even called to remove them from the team.

Basit Ali labels Babar Azam-Shaheen Afridi's on-field friendship 'Fake'

Now, despite the Pakistan cricket team’s assistant coach Azhar Mehmood's denial of all the rumors by saying Babar and Shaheen are still good friends and they are still on talking terms, the former batter labeled such statements completely fake after the IND vs PAK match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

Echoing Akram’s sentiments, the former Pakistan women's head coach slammed Babar for accepting the captaincy after he was asked to step down as Pakistan across the format following their poor performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

Notably, Shaheen Afridi was named Pakistan’s T20I captain after Babar’s removal, but after just one poor series, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain, and it led to a rift between the two key players of the national side.

Basit further claimed that Babar and Shaheen only talk to show off on the field, and there is no conversation between them off the field. Slamming Babar, the former Pakistani batter said that his only step to returning to captaincy was to break his friendship with Afridi and divide the team into groups.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi's friendship is now over: Basit Ali

Furthermore, Ali blamed the cold war between Babar and Shaheen for the Men in Green’s poor performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, saying their estrangement impacted the entire team’s performance since they are now no more friends.

Basit Ali said on Sports Tak: “This (rift between Shaheen and Babar) is the thing that has made a group in the team. I'm sorry to say this, but our team now has groups. Babar wouldn't have accepted the captaincy. If he wanted to return as captain, he would have talked to Shaheen first.

They had a really great friendship, but that friendship ended in a very miserable way. Since their friendship is now over, it has impacted the Pakistan team and its performance on the field.”

On being asked if they even talk to each other, Basil said that Babar and Shaheen talk to each other on the ground, but there is nothing well between them in the dressing room.

He signed off by saying, “They talk on the ground. Not outside the ground.”

Watch Basit Ali’s sensational claims -

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Notably, Pakistan suffered back-to-back defeats in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 before returning to winning ways with a massive win over Canada in their last Group A match in New York on June 11.

The Men in Green were crushed by the USA and India in the first two games, denting their chances of making it to the Super 8s. However, Pakistan managed to keep their hopes alive by defeating Canada by seven wickets.