Babar Azam clarifies alleged dispute with Shaheen Afridi, says 'we love each other as much as...'

Before embarking on their journey to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, has taken the opportunity to address rumors surrounding an alleged disagreement with his teammate, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The speculation regarding tensions between Babar and the left-arm pacer emerged following Pakistan's exit from the Asia Cup after a loss to Sri Lanka earlier this month. In Pakistan's final press conference before their departure for the World Cup, Babar Azam set the record straight, saying, "Respect is given to everyone. You see, whenever the match is close and we lose, it's just a regular meeting, but sometimes it's portrayed as if we had a fight. It shouldn't be like that. Respect should remain constant for everyone. We love each other as much as we do our family."

Despite facing delays due to visa issues, Babar and the Pakistan team are finally set to depart for India on Wednesday. The delay had forced them to cancel a two-day pre-tournament camp in Dubai. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the initiative to address the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and it was confirmed that the Indian High Commission granted visas for the Pakistan team around 8 PM IST.

Pakistan enters the 50-overs World Cup as strong contenders, with high hopes of making a significant impact in the tournament.