The Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team, one of the pre-Asia Cup favourites, could not live up to its reputation and were knocked out of the Super 4 stage. The Pakistan team were pegged back by injuries of Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah too. Though they fought till the end, Pakistan could not go over the line in a must-win match against co-hosts Sri Lanka, and were shown the door.
To make matters worse, according to a report of Pakistan media outlet Bol News, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi were engaged in a war of words after the defeat to Sri Lanka. According to the report, after the loss, Babar questioned the role of the senior players in the Asia Cup 2023 campaign. However, Shaheen interrupted him and said he should not generalise and not criticises those who did well. Babar then replied that he is well aware about who is doing well and who’s not. The report added that Babar, went to the press conference after the loss, and on his way to the hotel did not talk to anybody.
However, Shaheen has quelled the rumours with a recent post. on Tuesday, Shaheen posted a photo with Babar, along with the caption: “Family”.
family pic.twitter.com/VjKAFOTIE5
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 19, 2023
Kusal Mendis‘ 91 and an unbeaten 49 by Charith Asalanka helped Sri Lanka edge out Pakistan by two wickets in a last-ball thriller of the Asia Cup to set up a final clash with India. Chasing a DLS revised target of 252 in the 42-overs-a-side contest in Colombo, Sri Lanka needed eight from the final over and achieved the target with Asalanka’s winning hit on the last ball. A raucous home crowd rejoiced but the result broke the heart of millions of fans awaiting an India-Pakistan final in the 50-over tournament, a prelude to the upcoming ODI World Cup.
The loss also hurt the Pakistan team players, especially their skipper Babar Azam. The team captain’s father Azam Siddique has revealed that Babar was not able to even speak afer Pakistan exit from Asia Cup 2023.
“Salam Pakistan. Pakistan played the whole match with half the players and lost on the last ball with a four of a flock. But in this match, I have been shown a total superstar bowler Zaman Khan, who was bowling very well even in high pressure. Win or lose game. It is a part of the team, but the team played the whole competition despite being in half,” wrote Siddiqui in a post on Instagram in Urdu.
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