Rumours of a rift within the Pakistan cricket team are swirling after former cricketer Basit Ali hinted at some drama behind the scenes. With Pakistan struggling in the ongoing five-match T20 series against New Zealand, Babar Azam’s role as captain is under scrutiny. The team’s poor showing has left them trailing 2-1, and reports suggest there might be more to it than just a bad run of form.
Is there a rift in the Pakistan team?
Basit Ali made waves when he described what he saw during the third T20 match in Lahore, where Pakistan lost to New Zealand by a close margin of four runs. The former cricketer shared his insights on a YouTube channel, claiming that Babar Azam was having a hard time getting the fielders to follow his orders.
According to Basit, when Babar tried to reposition a fielder, he was met with outright defiance. One fielder reportedly told him, “I am not going, you go yourself.” Not exactly the team spirit you’d expect.
The loss to New Zealand was a bitter pill for Pakistan, especially considering the Kiwis were without several of their key players. New Zealand scored 178 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs, while Pakistan managed only 174 for eight, falling short despite Babar Azam’s best efforts.
Pakistan lose T20 series against New Zealand
The third T20 loss to New Zealand was a setback for Pakistan, especially since the New Zealand squad was missing several star players. The visiting team posted 178 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs, while Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, could manage only 174 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.
With the T20 World Cup looming, these revelations suggest that Pakistan’s team chemistry might be in jeopardy. If the claims made by Basit Ali hold, Pakistan’s cricket authorities will need to address the issue to ensure team cohesion and success in future tournaments.