The national cricket team’s pre-World Cup activities in the USA have sparked controversy. Arriving in Dallas on June 1, the team was preparing for their first match against the USA. Captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan attended an event at the Islamic Center from 6 pm to 10 pm.
The following evening, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf were slated to participate in the ‘Night with Star’ event. However, the event was canceled due to remuneration disputes and personal conflicts between some players, according to Jang.
On June 2, players Imad Wasim, Muhammad Amir, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Usman Khan attended a party at ‘CAVALLI Restaurant.’ They received payments ranging from $2000 to $2500 for their participation, while attendees were charged $25 each to cover costs.
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Despite an upcoming match against the USA on June 6, players were reportedly seen outside their hotel late at night. Eyewitnesses noted that three players were at a restaurant until 2 am. Senior manager Wahab Riaz permitted the players to leave the hotel during the night.
The team faced defeats against both the USA and India, leading to their elimination from the T20 World Cup. Reports indicate that the team is divided into three groups, with players not speaking to each other. Apart from two events in Dallas, no other activities were attended by the players during their stay in the USA.
