Pakistan cricket team's all-format skipper Babar Azam, winner of ICC Cricket of the year award for his superb show in 2022, has been facing heat for quite some time now due to his prolonged lean patch and national team's recent losses under his captaincy.
Failing to come up with desired outcomes for Pakistan, losing quite a few high-profile matches at home, and his personal struggle with form, Babar has been targeted and criticised immensely by fans and critics in past few months.
Pakistan suffered humiliating losses against Australia and England in Test (3-0 whitewash) and T20I series last year on home soil. Earlier this year, New Zealand defeated Pakistan in an ODI series, in Pakistan, for the first time in history.
Amid all the chaos, rumors started circulating about a possible 'rift' among players in Pakistan dressing room. Reacting to this, star Pak player Shaan Masood denied all such claims and said that the Men in Green are more united than ever.
"Hum sab Babar Azam ke behind hai. Jis tarike se koi bhi aapka captain hota hai, jab Saifi bhai thai, tb bhi hum jaan dene ko taiyaar thai, ab jab Babar Azam hai, tb bhi hum jaan dene ko taiyaar hai. Leader first. Aur hum sabka common goal Pakistan hai. Bahut saari hum khabre padhte hai, cheeje dekhte hai jo team ko idhar se udhar karne ki koshish karti hai, lekin personally, kisi ko kisi k saath koi vo nahi hai. Hum Pakistan k liye khelne aaye hai, ye bahut badi privilige hai. Hum sab uske saath hai", Shan said according to Cricket Pakistan.
"We watch a lot of news on criticism of the team but we don't get bothered by them as our mutual goal is to play for our country," he added when asked about the team's morale at the moment.
Masood lauded pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, calling him one of the best bowlers in the world right now.
"If you are surviving Shaheen's first over and also hitting a six, it means that you are playing very well as he is the number one bowler in the world right now," he said.