The source is unconfirmed but the chat aired on the talk show recorded a conversation between Babar and PCB COO Salman Naseer.
Just when you thought Pakistan cricket couldn’t get any worse after a disastrous World Cup season, an alleged conversation between captain Babar Azam and cricket board officials surfaces online Coming out of the water, the whole country went crazy. Although the original source has not been confirmed, the chat was aired on a talk show on ARY News Channel and recorded a conversation between Babar and PCB COO Salman Naseer.
The whole fiasco began when Pakistan suffered a string of defeats – four games in a row – that pushed them to the brink of World Cup elimination. After the disastrous result, rumors started to spread that Babar should be sacked as captain, adding fuel to the fire. The PCB later said in an official press release that the board would take a decision in the best interest of Pakistan cricket, indirectly hinting that Babar was about to be sacked. This had a ripple effect that sent shockwaves through the entire Pakistani cricket fraternity.
In a chaotic development, former captain Rashid Latif revealed that the players had not been paid for five months and the PCB had not responded to Babar’s calls, sparking further outrage. This sparked a spark that led to the leak of WhatsApp chats, with Nasir checking with Babar whether he had actually called the board.
“Babar, the news is also circulating on TV and social media that you called the chairman but he didn’t respond. Have you called him recently?” Salman was seen asking the Pakistan captain, the reply he got It’s “Salam Salman.” Bye! Maine toh Sir ko call nahi kara (Greetings Salman! I haven’t made any such call to sir)”.
Babar’s recent statement may have put the rumors to rest, but the bigger question remains how, why and under what circumstances his private conversations with board officials appeared on television channels. Former Pakistan captain and pacer Waqar Younis was outraged by the video and criticized the channel and called the act pathetic.
“Yeh kya karne ki koshish kar rahe ho aap log (What do you want to prove?) This is so sad. Khush ho gaye aap log (Are you happy now)? Please don’t bother Babar Azam. He is the world of Pakistan cricket wealth,” he posted on X.
Even former Pakistan captain and batsman Azhar Ali, who was present at the time, questioned and condemned the channel for such negligence. “Did you get Babar’s permission before forwarding this? You should have Babar’s permission even before making a big splash,” he said.
