Babar Azam’s leaked WhatsApp chat ‘bothered’ PCB COO

The revelation of captain Babar Azam’s private WhatsApp chat about team affairs has irked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer, senior sports journalist Sohail Imran revealed on Thursday.

“PCB COO Salman Naseer is very annoyed that in the corporate culture the conversation that was shared between people should have remained between them…” he said while speaking to Geo Pakistan projection.

The PCB COO, the senior journalist said, is also worried that players would be wary of discussing their issues with him in future amid fears that their private conversations might be leaked.

The reporter shared that the PCB COO is worried about the players’ concerns that their private conversation with him may be shared with the PCB chairman or someone else and eventually leaked to the media.

Journalist Imran said the latest saga has created a trust deficit between the national team players and the PCB COO.

Moreover, according to the reporter, Babar is also upset about the leak fearing that his private conversation on sensitive issues may be leaked to the media in future.

Responding to a question about who leaked the chat, the reporter said everything about the controversy has come out in the open and the leaker had also claimed responsibility.

Leak controversy

The saga began after an alleged “private” WhatsApp conversation between Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and a senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was recently broadcast live on local television.

The leaked conversation gave credence to reports that the PCB senior management was ignoring Babar Azam’s messages.

Speaking to state broadcaster PTV Sports, Rashid Latif claimed that the captain has been sending messages to PCB Board of Management Chairman Zaka Ashraf, Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer and Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla for the past two days, but all three are does not respond.

The controversy was also discussed on a private news channel when a screenshot of an alleged WhatsApp conversation between the two was broadcast.

“Babar, there is also this news on TV and social media that you have been calling the President and he is not answering. Have you called him lately?’

To which, Babar Azam reportedly replied, “Salaam Salman bhai, ma nai to ser ko koi call nai ke [Salam Salman bhai, I have not made any calls to sir].”

“Okay thanks,” the other person replied.

However, the date the contact was made was not mentioned.

Former Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali, who was one of the guests on the show, asked the reporter if he got Babar’s consent before leaking a private communication.

Which he said, as a reporter, he doesn’t need to ask.

This move did not go down well with netizens who slammed the TV channel’s management and the reporter for their “immoral” move.