In a recent controversy surrounding the leak of Babar Azam‘s private chat with a high-ranking PCB official, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has criticized PCB chief Zaka Ashraf. The news anchor, Waseem Badami, who displayed the private chat on TV, admitted to an error in decision-making and claimed that Ashraf instructed them to make the chat public.
Afridi, expressing his dissatisfaction with Ashraf’s actions, emphasized that Ashraf holds the position of the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and should act accordingly.
“Zaka Ashraf isn’t just a club chairman, he’s the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board. He needs to pay attention to several things. It’s surprising that he’s reaching out to media owners, saying, ‘He is saying so and so about me.’ As the chairman, he should focus on his responsibilities, perform his job, and not give people the chance to talk about him,” Afridi said.
The former captain advised Ashraf to focus on his responsibilities, especially during the ongoing World Cup.
“The team is in the midst of the World Cup, and you keep making statement after statement. One moment it’s about Babar, the next it’s about someone else. Strengthen your position first. Focus on meeting the expectations we, as cricketers, have from you. Ignore what others are saying against you. By speaking so much, you are providing them with the opportunity. Concentrate on your own responsibilities,” he added.
Despite the off-field controversies, Pakistan managed to stay in the competition by defeating Bangladesh with a convincing seven-wicket victory at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata after facing four consecutive losses in the 2023 ODI World Cup.