Basit Ali blames internal captaincy rift for Pakistan cricket team decline

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali identified a public dispute between Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi over the captaincy as the primary cause for the national team's recent struggles. The comments follow Pakistan’s 2-0 series loss to England, which included a 194-run defeat at Lord’s. Leadership positions within the team have remained in constant flux since the 2023 ODI World Cup, with multiple players rotating through captaincy roles across formats. In response to the poor results during the England tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board has initiated a restructuring of the setup. Seven players, including Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, have been released from the squad. Additionally, Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were removed, with Mike Hesson scheduled to lead the side for the final Test at Edgbaston.

• 10:52 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Pakistan was ruined that day’: Ex-cricketer blames Babar Azam-Shaheen Afridi rift for team’s downfall