Tension surfaces in Pakistan team as Shaheen Afridi pushes skipper's hand away in viral video

New Delhi: Pakistan's quest for a World Test Championship final qualification suffered a big setback with a crushing defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The Bangladesh team, led by Shan Masood, delivered a historic performance, securing their first-ever Test victory against Pakistan with a commanding 10-wicket win on Sunday. This loss has put Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final in jeopardy.

Tension in dressing room?

Following the match, a video has gone viral on social media that raises questions about the unity within the Pakistan cricket team. The footage shows Pakistan captain Shan Masood standing next to fast bowler Shaheen Afridi during a team huddle. In the video, Afridi is seen removing Masood's arms from his shoulders, an act that has sparked considerable debate among fans and analysts. The incident has been interpreted as a sign of internal discord, further highlighted by the team’s recent poor performance.

Captain's fury and internal strife

Adding to the tension, another video surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), capturing Masood's intense confrontation with newly-appointed head coach Jason Gillespie on Day 3 of the Test match. Masood’s visible frustration and aggressive argument with Gillespie underscored the mounting pressure and discontent within the team.

Watch the video here:

Bangladesh's tactical mastery

Bangladesh's victory was significantly aided by their bowlers, with spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan claiming seven wickets between them in Pakistan’s second innings. Their effective bowling dismantled the Pakistani lineup for just 146 runs. The performance of Miraz (4-21) and Shakib (3-44) highlighted Pakistan's tactical error of not including a specialist spinner in their attack, a decision that proved costly. Bangladesh’s openers, Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam, swiftly chased down the modest target of 30 runs in just seven overs to clinch the win.

First innings highlights

In the first innings, Pakistan declared at 448 for six, but Bangladesh responded strongly. Mushfiqur Rahim scored a magnificent 191, marking his sixth century of over 150 runs, and guided Bangladesh to a total of 565 all out. Rahim’s stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade.