Last Update on: October 31st, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Pakistani anchor Waseem Badami, who became associated with the private chat leak involving Babar Azam, has issued an apology for the controversial incident. Acknowledging the mistake, Waseem expressed regret and shouldered responsibility on behalf of his broadcast team at ARY News.
Waseem further disclosed that it was Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chief, who had encouraged and directed the broadcast team to present the Babar Azam chat on live television.
Pakistani anchor Waseem Badami, who became associated with the private chat leak involving Babar Azam, has issued an apology for the controversial incident. Acknowledging the mistake, Waseem expressed regret and shouldered responsibility on behalf of his broadcast team at ARY News.
In a startling revelation, Waseem disclosed that their initial decision had been to refrain from airing Babar Azam‘s private conversation during the live broadcast. However, this decision took an abrupt turn due to a video message from PCB chief Zaka Ashraf.
The private chat leak, which involved Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam and PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer, had caused significant public outcry. Numerous former cricketers criticized the media channel for the breach of Babar Azam’s privacy.
Waseem Badami admitted to the pressure of making swift decisions in producing a live show involving various team members. Such decisions, he noted, could lead to both correct and erroneous outcomes. He stated that the broadcast team had collectively decided, roughly an hour before the show, not to make the private chat public.
“We have to make a lot of quick decisions when we produce a live show. A lot of people are involved in it too. 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,” Badami said.
Waseem Badami Revealed That It Was PCB Chief Zaka Ashraf Gave Him Permission
Waseem further disclosed that it was Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chief, who had encouraged and directed the broadcast team to present the Babar Azam chat on live television.
“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’. Ashraf also gave us permission to share that. He was taking responsibility on TV; we thought we could share it. But it wasn’t the ideal decision.”
“We conveniently forgot that Babar Azam’s consent was also important. I’m saying this on behalf of my team and the management. I am not proud of it, we are not proud of it. When something like this happens, you learn from it and try not to repeat the same in future,” he added.
Ashraf had also given them his permission for the presentation. The team considered this directive from Ashraf as a sign of responsibility. However, they overlooked the significance of obtaining Babar Azam’s consent.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ethical responsibilities that media organizations bear in protecting individuals’ privacy and ensuring the authenticity and appropriateness of the content they choose to share with the public. The disclosure by Waseem Badami sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced in the fast-paced world of live television production, and the impact that decisions made in haste can have on individuals’ lives and reputations.
