'Babar Azam Was Forced To Text By PCB...': Rashid Latif Makes Another Sensational Claim

The controversy surrounding Babar Azam being allegedly ignored by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has taken a new turn.

It all began when former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif sensationally claimed that Ashraf was constantly ignoring Babar Azam’s messages. His comments came after Pakistan’s narrow loss against South Africa in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Latif claimed that Babar Azam was messaging the PCB chief from last two days but was not getting any reply. He also claimed that other PCB officials were ignoring the captain’s messages too. The Pakistan great also revealed that the players have not received their salaries from last five months.

“Babar Azam has been trying to contact the chairman for the past two days, but they are not responding. He is messaging Salman Naseer (Chief Operating Officer), he is messaging Usman Walha (Director – International Cricket. So, what is the reason for not responding to their captain? Then, you are releasing a press statement,” Latif said.

Rashid Latif makes another claim:

After Latif’s statement, a Pakistani news channel leaked the private chat between Babar Azam and PCB COO Salman Naseer where the star batsman stated that he did not make any calls to the PCB chief.

“Babar, there’s also been news circulating on TV and social media that you have been calling Chairman and he’s not answering. Have you called him recently?” the PCB COO asked the Pakistan captain.

To which Babar Azam replied: “Salam Salman bhai, I have not made any call to sir.”

After the chat was leaked, Latif has been facing the heat on social media. However, the former cricketer has now come up with another claim, saying that Babar was forced to text and deny his claims by the PCB. He also claimed that Ashraf not only refused to reply to Babar’s messages but ignored his calls too.

Rashid Larif says Babar Azam was forced to text by the PCB and that's why there wasn't even a difference of one minute between messages as the screenshot shows too. He also claims Zaka Ashraf refused to attend Babar's calls ?

– via Qadir Khawaja #CWC23 #PCB #PakistanCricket

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) October 30, 2023

Meanwhile, Ashraf has himself refused Latif’s claims. Talking to a local news channel, the PCB chairman said: “He [Latif] says that I don’t pick up his [Babar’s] call. He has never called me. The team’s captain is supposed to talk with Director International Cricket or the Chief Operating Officer.”