Pakistan cricket team’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup has led to rumors about groupism within the squad. However, former captain Shahid Afridi has denied these allegations, stating that there have never been any groups within the team in the past. In an interview on Samaa TV, Afridi criticized the poor performances and poor captaincy that resulted in Pakistan’s elimination from the tournament.
Afridi specifically targeted Babar Azam’s leadership as a significant issue and blamed it for the team’s lackluster performance. He argued that group formation within the team was a sign of weak leadership and only became apparent when the team was not performing well on the field. Afridi also took aim at newer fans on social media, saying that they had no understanding of the game and were quick to spread rumors without knowing what was happening on the pitch.
Despite this criticism, Afridi emphasized that Pakistan’s poor showing in the T20 World Cup was mainly due to their failure to deliver on the field. He pointed out that both batsmen and bowlers had not been performing up to par, which had ultimately led to their early exit from the tournament. Nevertheless, Pakistan will play their final group game against Ireland in an attempt to salvage some pride after a disappointing campaign.
Many other stalwarts of Pakistan cricket, including Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, have also criticized Babar Azam’s batting and captaincy during the T20 World Cup. With all this backlash, it is clear that Pakistan will be looking to put up a better show in their final game and end their campaign on a positive note before they head back home with their heads held high.