(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] After their two consecutive losses in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan are facing criticism due to their poor performance in the tournament so far. They have played four matches, winning two against Netherlands and Sri Lanka and losing two to India and Australia. Currently, they are placed at No. 5 on the points table.
However, besides their on-field performance, there have been reports of physical altercations among the Pakistani players. A group of Pakistani journalists has taken to social media to discuss these alleged team disputes, pledging to share additional information after the match on Monday against Afghanistan in Chennai.
These posts suggest that two players engaged in a physical altercation, and there seems to be increasing tension within the team with captain Babar Azam distancing himself from a faction of players.
Furthermore, it is also reported that the team is divided into two groups. Pakistan star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, leading one group, opposes the decisions made by skipper Babar with the support of other players such as Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.
In their clarification, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued an official statement regarding the news spread by the media over the reported altercations between players. The PCB denied all the rumours that the team is divided into groups.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board strongly denies recent speculations about any internal discord in the national cricket team currently participating in the ICC World Cup 2023. Contrary to rumours circulated by a certain section of the media, the PCB unequivocally assures that the team is cohesive and there is no evidence to support these unsubstantiated claims,” read the statement released by the PCB on Monday.
“The PCB is disappointed by the dissemination of this false news and emphasises the importance of upholding journalistic ethics before spreading such allegations,” the statement further mentioned.