Shaheen, Babar's 'family' photo ends rift speculations

Peshawar: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi shared a photo on social media on Tuesday, featuring him alongside captain Babar Azam, with the caption "family."

This gesture comes in the wake of rumors about a dressing room conflict between the two players during the 2023 Asia Cup.

Speculations arose following Pakistan's elimination from the Asia Cup, where they suffered a narrow last-ball defeat to Sri Lanka in a highly competitive match.

family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VjKAFOTIE5

— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 19, 2023

According to media reports, a heated verbal exchange took place between Babar and Shaheen during a post-match team meeting. It was reported that Babar expressed dissatisfaction with the performances of some senior players, prompting Shaheen to encourage Babar to recognize the contributions of those who had performed well. Mohammad Rizwan reportedly intervened to mediate the situation.

Shaheen's recent social media post, however, seems to dispel these rumors. The photo depicts Shaheen and Babar playing chess together at a table, accompanied by the caption "family."

This post by Shaheen has garnered positive reactions from fans and the media, with many commending him for putting an end to the rift rumors. It's noteworthy that Shaheen's wedding to former captain Shahid Afridi's daughter is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Karachi.