Did Zaka Ashraf ignore Babar Azam’s phone calls? Ashraf reveals all

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf has said that former cricketer Rashid Latif’s statement was “wrong, regrettable” and “part of an agenda.”

Speaking on a TV show, former wicketkeeper Rashid Latif claimed that Babar Azam has been sending messages to the Chairman PCB Management Committee, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Director of International Cricket for two consecutive days, but all three of them are avoiding him.

However, now in an interview on a private channel, PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf rejected Rashid Latif’s claims , stating, “The statement was wrong, which is regrettable, I think it is also part of an agenda.”

"کرکٹ ٹیم کا کپتان چیئرمین سے کبھی رابطہ نہیں کرتا۔" ذکا اشرف نے بابر اعظم کی کال نہ اُٹھانے کی تردید کردی#ARYNews #ARYSports #BabarAzam #ZakaAshraf@Shoaib_Jatt pic.twitter.com/DRkinhZH6M

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) October 29, 2023

Zaka Ashraf said that the chairman of the previous board had given NOC to the players to play leagues, and when the time came for the World Cup, the fitness problems of the players came to the fore.

Talking about the payment of players’ salaries, he said that if the players sign on, the money will reach their account. “Neither the players are going anywhere, nor the board is going anywhere.”

Zaka Ashraf said that players are being paid huge salaries all over the world. “I thought that they should give more money to the players to play in the national team.”

Stating that Najam Sethi had filed a case against him in the previous period, Ashraf pointed out that, “Even then, no irregularity of even one rupee was proved against me.”

“Our cricket is not modern-day cricket. Apart from that, I cannot say anything about friendship in the team, but the fitness and performance of many players are in front of you.”