'Zaka Ashraf Sahab, Apne Kaam Se Kaam Rakho': Afridi Lambasts PCB Chief on Live Show - WATCH

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has lashed out at Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf for creating unnecessary ruckus in the media. The country’s cricket fraternity has expressed its anger over skipper Babar Azam’s WhatsApp chats getting public via national media. The agitation led to an apology from Pakistani TV news anchor Waseem Badami who had run the screenshots of the chats on television. However, he also revealed that he and his team were asked by the PCB chief to make the messages public.

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Speaking in a video shared on microblogging site X, Badami said his team had decided not to put the screenshot of Babar’s chat on-air but they changed their minds after receiving a message from Ashraf. The news anchor alleged that the PCB chief not only provided them with the screenshot of Babar’s chat but also urged the channel to run it on a live show.

Badami’s statement further irked the cricket fraternity of Pakistan who are now lashing out at the PCB chief. Legendary all-rounder Afridi lost his calm while speaking on Samaa TV, stating that Ashraf should focus on his work and stop speaking to media houses, especially when the team is playing World Cup.

“Zaka Ashraf Sahab is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and not just of any random club. He needs to look after several things. I feel very strange when I get to know that he has been making phone calls to media houses and speaking about who all are speaking about him. Oh Khuda ke liye… aap chairman ho, aap deliver karo, aap kaam karo (For God’s sake, stop these and behave like a cricket board’s chairman),” Afridi told Samaa TV.

“People are speaking about you because you have allowed them to speak about you. You focus on your work. The team is playing World Cup and you are passing statements. Please focus on your job, we are cricketers and have hopes for you.

“Mauka aap kud de rahe hain, Apne kaam se kaam rakhein (Mind your business, Zaka Ashraf Sahab),” Afiridi concluded.

Earlier, the former captain had slammed the Pakistani media for airing Babar’s messages and said such acts defame the country and its cricketers.

“Main yeh kahunga yeh ghatiya harkat hai (It is a pathetic move). This cannot be done. Hum apne mulk ko khud hi badnam kar rahe hain (We are defaming our country and our players). How can you show someone’s private messages like this, and that too, of our captain Babar Azam?”