PCB Denies Shaheen Afridi-Salman Agha Rift, Vows Legal Action Over ‘Defamatory’ Claims.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday strongly denied reports of an alleged rift between pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, white-ball captain Salman Ali Agha, and head coach Mike Hesson, calling the rumours “baseless, fabricated, and defamatory.”
The viral social media posts, which claimed that coach Hesson and captain Salman had raised concerns over Afridi’s attitude with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, were firmly rejected by the Board. In its official statement, the PCB made it clear that “no such incident has occurred at any point during training or practice sessions.”
“These malicious rumours are entirely fictitious and appear to be a calculated attempt to sow discord within the national squad,” the statement said, accusing unnamed individuals of trying to disrupt team unity.
The Board also announced its intent to initiate strict legal proceedings—including defamation and cybercrime charges—against those responsible for circulating the false information. The statement termed the episode a “premeditated defamation campaign” targeting the professional integrity of players and staff.
The rumour gained traction earlier in the day and triggered backlash against Shaheen Afridi on social media, with speculations of unrest in the Pakistan dressing room during their ongoing West Indies tour.
Calling for restraint, the PCB appealed to the public, media, and digital platforms to avoid sharing or endorsing unverified claims. “The PCB remains committed to protecting its players, staff, and the sanctity of the national team from unwarranted and harmful speculation,” the statement concluded.
The Pakistan men’s team is currently in the Caribbean for a six-match white-ball series—comprising three T20Is starting August 2, followed by three ODIs on August 8, 10, and 12.
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