Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has refuted reports of groupism in the Men in the Green team. This comes after Pakistan was knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024 from the group stage itself.

After this exit, reports of the dressing room being divided into three groups have been rife. However, Afridi declined such notions and blamed it on poor performances and poor captaincy, and rubbished conspiracies about groups within the team.

Shahid Afridi also said that even if groups formed in Pakistan team, it was due to Babar Azam’s weak leadership and captaincy.

"No group exists within the team. There never has been any. 2019, 20, 21, 22, 23, we never spoke about groups. Only now are groups coming? If groups are being formed, that is a clear sign of weak leadership. Only when performances are bad, that's when the groups can be seen,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.

Afridi also slammed the fans on social media for believing and spreading rumors about groupism.

"This is the age of social media. All the kids born in the Covid era have no idea about things. They only know how to use phones, they are not educated (about cricket). We're simply not playing good enough cricket. Our batsmen and bowlers are not performing well," said Afridi.

Pakistan have endured a dismal 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, losing their first two matches to co-hosts USA and then India. With the Ireland v USA game getting washed out due to rain in Florida, Pakistan’s exit from the T20 World Cup was confirmed.

Pakistan face Ireland in their final Group A game on Sunday, June 16, in what will be a final chance for them to get some pride back.