Former Pakistan cricketers Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi have openly criticized the local media for their alleged role in leaking private conversations involving current Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam and a senior PCB official. The leaked Whatsapp chat has caused a stir in the Pakistan cricketing fraternity and has prompted strong reactions from both players.
Waqar and Afridi, known for their outspoken nature, have expressed their displeasure at the breach of privacy and the lack of ethical journalism. They condemned the act, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the players’ confidentiality and the need to respect their personal space.
Younis voiced his dismay at the leaked conversation with a potent tweet, saying: “Ya kya Karna ki koshish kar raha ho aap loog? This is pathetic !!! Khush ho gaya aap loog. Please leave @babarazam258alone. He’s an asset of Pakistan Cricket @TheRealPCB @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL @Salman_ARY.”
Ya kya Karna ki koshish kar raha ho aap loog??? This is pathetic !!!
Khush ho gaya aap loog. Please leave @babarazam258 alone 🙏🏽. He’s an asset of Pakistan Cricket @TheRealPCB @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL @Salman_ARY https://t.co/pcM90yUGqy— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) October 30, 2023
Also READ: ODI World Cup 2023 – Fans criticize PCB chief Zaka Ashraf for leaking Babar Azam’s WhatsApp chats
Meanwhile, Afridi expressed his anger at PCB chief Zaka Ashraf and remarked that it was a pathetic move on his part.
“It is a pathetic move. If it has been done by PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, then it is very sad. How can you leak someone’s private messages, that too of captain Babar Azam. It is the board that is defaming our players,” said Afridi while talking to SAMAA TV.
Afridi added: “I saw Rashid Latif reporting that there is a tiff between Babar Azam and Zaka Ashraf. To counter those reports in this way was uncalled for. Why did Shoaib Jatt bring it up? Did the chairman ask him to do so?”
The reactions of Younis and Afridi have drawn attention to the broader issue of media ethics and the responsibilities of journalists in respecting the boundaries of personal communication. As the story continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Pakistan Cricket Board and other relevant authorities will address the concerns raised by the two former cricketing icons.
Also READ: ODI World Cup 2023 – Mohammad Hafeez launches a blistering attack on Babar Azam; refrains from labelling him as the greatest Pakistani player