Shoaib Akhtar has withdrawn strong criticism of Mohsin Naqvi, saying his earlier remarks were misunderstood and not personally directed at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.
The former Pakistan fast bowler had described Naqvi as incompetent and illiterate during an interview on ABP News, questioning his suitability to lead the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Appearing later on ARY News, the Rawalpindi Express clarified that the words were used in a broader discussion about leadership failures and were not aimed specifically at Naqvi.
He claimed the television channel twisted his comments and insisted he had also said people should not speak wrongly about Naqvi, whom he described as someone who wants to help Pakistan cricket.
Akhtar said his reference to incompetence concerned individuals whose poor leadership can damage institutions, while repeatedly clarifying that his criticism targeted those running international cricket.
Despite retracting his remarks, Akhtar admitted he remains angry with the PCB chairman over reversing a boycott stance against a neighbouring country during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
The legendary pacer said the wider cricket community had supported that position and suggested Naqvi could have consulted him before deciding to change course.
During an interview with Indian media, Akhtar said an inexperienced person had been given a critical role in the cricket board, which he called the “biggest crime in the world” in cricket management.
Akhtar had labelled Naqvi as “jaahil” and suggested that assigning important responsibilities to incompetent people directly harms the team’s chances and reflects poorly on Pakistan’s cricket administration.