Pakistan's cricket team captain, Babar Azam, faces criticism due to his team's lackluster performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Reports have suggested a strained relationship between Babar and the Chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf. There are even rumours that Ashraf is avoiding Babar's phone calls. A Pakistani TV channel aired an alleged WhatsApp chat with Babar, leading to legendary cricketer Waqar Younis expressing his disapproval of personal chats being leaked on television.
There are speculations circulating on social media about Babar's captaincy being in jeopardy, with the PCB considering the possibility of replacing him after Pakistan's World Cup 2023 campaign. Waqar Younis was particularly unhappy about a supposed private chat of Babar Azam being made public.
The text, as displayed by the Pakistani channel, showed a message from a sender named Salman: "Babar, there's also been this news circulating on TV and social media that you have been calling Chairman and he's not answering. Have you called him recently?"
The receiver, saved as 'Babar Azam New,' responded, "Salam Salman bhai, many to sir ko koi call nai ke (Hello brother, I did not call sir)."
Waqar Younis shared his frustration on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Ya kya Karna ki koshish kar raha ho aap loog??? This is pathetic!!! Khush ho gaya aap loog. Please leave @babarazam258 alone. He's an asset of Pakistan Cricket @TheRealPCB @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL @Salman_ARY."
Pakistan have suffered four consecutive losses and are on the brink of elimination from the tournament. Their upcoming match is against Shakib Al Hasan's Bangladesh on Tuesday, October 31 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Regarding Babar Azam's individual performance, he has scored 207 runs at an ordinary average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 79, with the help of three half-centuries and a high score of 74 against Afghanistan.