TV Anchor Apologizes For Leaking Babar Azam’s WhatsApp Chat, Says PCB Chief Asked Him

Following the controversy of Babar Azam’s WhatsApp chat leak, Pakistan TV anchor Waseem Badami issued an apology on X, formerly Twitter, to the Pakistan captain following huge social media uproar. Badami accepted that he and his team at ARY News were at fault for airing private messages between Babar and PCB COO Salman Naseer.

The controversy revolves around the striking claims made by former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, blaming Zaka Ashraf for ignoring calls by the captain while adding months of salaries of national team players are due. Following the claims, Salman Naseer contacted Babar Azam on WhatsApp and asked if it was true and the Pakistan captain didn’t back the statement made by Latif.

“Babar, there’s also been news circulating on TV and social media that you have been calling Chairman and he’s not answering. Have you called him recently?” read the message allegedly sent by the PCB COO.

“Salam (greetings) Salman bhai. Maine to sir ko koi call nai ke [I haven’t called sir],” replied Babar Azam.

They leaked Babar Azam’s private WhatsApp chats?
Pakistani players ko milta kya hai ko unse itni expectations rakhte ho? This is disgusting, he still has three matches to play in this World Cup pic.twitter.com/8eHSG2oygT

— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) October 29, 2023

ARY News apologizes for sharing Babar Azam chat

After receiving much backlash from the Pakistani cricketing fraternity, especially from fans of Babar Azam, Waseem Badami took to X (formerly Twitter) and accepted the network’s mistake of leaking a private chat of the cricketer on live television. He said:

“We have to make a lot of quick decisions when we produce a live show. Naturally, some decisions prove to be right and some wrong. As a team, we made a wrong decision, sharing Babar’s chat with a senior PCB official. In short, we were sitting together and deciding an hour before the show that we shouldn’t make a private chat public.”

Admitting that the network team was not intending to invade Babar Azam’s privacy in the first place, Badami added that they were instructed to share the chat from PCB chief Zaka Ashraf himself prior to the show.

“About five to seven minutes before the show, we received a clip where Zaka Ashraf is saying: ‘I am giving you this screenshot and I am asking you to show it live on screen’.”

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

— Waseem Badami (@WaseemBadami) October 29, 2023