Shoaib Akhtar Clarifies: "Incompetent, Illiterate" Comment Not Directed at Naqvi

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has attempted to walk back his sharp criticism of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, less than a day after calling him “incompetent and illiterate” during a television appearance. The sudden reversal has sparked debate in Pakistan’s cricket circles and on social media.

Akhtar had originally made the remarks while speaking on an Indian news channel, where he questioned Naqvi’s suitability to lead the PCB. However, during a subsequent appearance on Pakistani broadcaster ARY News, the former pacer clarified that his comments were taken out of context and were not directed personally at the PCB chairman.

“The words ‘incompetent and jaahil’ that I used were not meant for Mohsin Naqvi bhai,” Akhtar said, adding that he was referring broadly to issues affecting Pakistan cricket administration. He suggested that the television coverage had misrepresented his intent and maintained that Naqvi is “a good guy” who wants to help Pakistan cricket but may not be receiving the right advice.

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Despite the clarification, Akhtar acknowledged that he remains unhappy with Naqvi over what he described as a U-turn on the PCB’s stance regarding a potential boycott of India during the T20 World Cup. He said his frustration stemmed from the reversal of that position rather than the overall functioning of the cricket board.

In his earlier comments, Akhtar had bluntly argued that appointing someone unfamiliar with cricket administration to such a senior role could harm the institution. He questioned how a team could function effectively under inexperienced leadership, remarks that triggered widespread attention.

The former speedster also weighed in on the performances of Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, suggesting Babar is not ideally suited for the T20 middle order while expressing concerns over Shaheen’s fitness and pace. Akhtar concluded with a broader critique of Pakistan cricket’s infrastructure and talent development, saying responsibility for recent struggles is shared by players, administrators, and the wider cricket ecosystem.

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