With the spotlight being on Pakistan Cricket as a collective after their disastrous start to the T20 World Cup 2024, the assistant coach has cleared the air regarding a rumoured rift between two senior members of the current team, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi.
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Azhar Mahmood who is a former cricketer for the country now serves as the assistant coach for the team and has denied that there is a rift between the current skipper Babar Azam and their pacer, Shaheen Afridi. He has also denied allegations by the former Pakistan skipper, Wasim Akram that the two were not on speaking terms.
Mahmood also hit back against the hate received by the team when some of the members were spotted doing things outside of cricket rather than being confined in their hotel rooms brooding over their narrow defeat against India.
“Wasim must have said that, but I don’t know. I didn’t see it. Shaheen and Babar are definitely talking, they are good friends. They are both part of the Pakistan team. We have not lost because of anyone, it is our mistake too,” Mahmood said referring to the team’s six-run loss to India in which it failed to chase down a 120-run target.
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He was also asked why players aren’t coming for press conferences to face the media, Mahmood responded by saying that the support staff takes equal responsibility when it comes to being answerable for the losses.
“We are not hiding any players, everyone is there. Everything is there. I said earlier that we are a team. Obviously, we’re sitting here, and it’s our responsibility. We’re not delivering. That’s why I’m sitting here,” he added.
“Yesterday, Gary (Kirsten) was sitting here. So definitely, it’s not like we’re hiding a player. They’re part of us.”
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Mahmood, chief selector Wahab Riaz and skipper Babar were seen enjoying a dinner at a restaurant here after the loss to India, which led to angry reactions from fans.
“You were there. I’m telling you; you were there. I saw you there too,” Mahmood hit back at the Pakistani reporter, who asked this question.
“The thing is, we are a very emotional nation. I mean, it’s not possible that if you lose a match, your life will be over. Yes, how will you do it? If you lose a match and then you come to the room and bang the walls of the room, then you need a little time to relax your mind.
Mahmood reflected on his experience with the English teams and suggested that it was only a normal thing to do. He commented, “Now, obviously, our players are not like that. I’ve been with English teams, too. If they go to a place like that, you can only go to eat, that’s our entertainment.”
Pakistan will be looking to get their act together as they take on Canada with their hopes of making it to the Super-8s hanging in the balance.
(with PTI Inputs)
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