PCB chief sharing Babar’s WhatsApp message sparks debate

LAHORE: In a startling turn of events, Zaka Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, came under intense criticism after allegedly leaking a personal WhatsApp conversation involving Pakistani cricket captain Babar Azam. The incident has raised questions about privacy and ethical boundaries in the realm of sports management.

The controversy unfolded when Rashid Latif, the former wicketkeeper for the Pakistani cricket team, claimed that Ashraf was allegedly neglecting Babar Azam’s attempts to contact him through calls and text messages. This led to a heated debate about the relationship between the cricket captain and the PCB chief.

In response to these claims, Ashraf took to a local news channel interview to refute the allegations, stating that Babar had never reached out to him directly. Ashraf defended himself, saying, “Latif says that I don’t pick up Babar’s call but he has never called me. The team’s captain is supposed to talk with Director International Cricket or the Chief Operating Officer.”

However, after this statement, a screenshot of what appeared to be Babar Azam’s personal WhatsApp message to PCB CEO Salman Naseer was also shown on national television. In the shared conversation, Naseer’s message inquired about Babar’s attempts to contact the PCB Chairman and referenced news circulating on TV and social media. Babar reportedly responded, “Salam Salman bhai, I have not made any call to sir.” This revelation on live television immediately ignited a debate over the ethics and privacy of sharing private messages in such a public manner.

The decision to disclose this personal exchange attracted severe backlash from sports journalists, former cricketers, and the wider public. Critics raised concerns about the ethical implications of making private conversations public without the consent of the involved parties.

The presenter of the show, Waseem Badami, also publicly acknowledged the mistake and took to his social media platform to express regret for sharing the WhatsApp conversation involving Babar Azam.

My humble thoughts on Babar Azam – Zaka Ashraf issue 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/g7RwamSP54

— Waseem Badami (@WaseemBadami) October 29, 2023

Former Pakistan Cricket team player and coach Waqar Younis also weighed in and shared his disappointment on the whole fiasco.

Ya kya Karna ki koshish kar raha ho aap loog??? This is pathetic !!!
Khush ho gaya aap loog. Please leave @babarazam258 alone 🙏🏽. He’s an asset of Pakistan Cricket @TheRealPCB @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL @Salman_ARY https://t.co/pcM90yUGqy

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) October 30, 2023

As the controversy surrounding the PCB chief’s actions continues to make headlines, it raises important questions about the boundaries and ethics of sharing private communication in the public domain, especially in the world of sports management.