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Desperate Shoaib Akhtar changes tune after calling Mohsin Naqvi ‘jaahil’: He's the most powerful man but wrongly advised

Shoaib Akhtar backtracked, claiming his remarks had been misinterpreted and were not aimed at Naqvi.

Updated on: Feb 17, 2026, 11:45:02 IST
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Less than 24 hours after criticising Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and calling him “incompetent” and “illiterate” on live television following Pakistan’s 61-run humiliation against India in the T20 World Cup, cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar changed his tune.

Shoaib Akhtar backtracked on his Mohsin Naqvi remark
Shoaib Akhtar backtracked on his Mohsin Naqvi remark

Akhtar was visibly frustrated after Pakistan slumped to their eighth defeat in nine T20 World Cup meetings against India. Sunday’s result left the 2009 champions on the brink of yet another group-stage exit, prompting Akhtar to lash out during an interaction with an Indian TV channel. “The biggest crime in the world is giving an incompetent guy the biggest job. When an incompetent and jaahil [ignorant] person is given a big job, any sort of chaos and damage can happen,” Akhtar had ranted on Sunday after the match.

ALSO READ: Michael Clarke blames boycott ‘circus’, questions Pakistan’s core after humiliation vs India: 'Might be final hurrah'

“My comments were never aimed at Mohsin Naqvi. The remark about incompetence was not directed at him at all — it was meant for the top brass who run international cricket. Some Indian TV channels twisted my words,” Akhtar told Pakistani media outlet ARY News. “In the same programme, I even asked people not to say anything negative about Mohsin bhai, because I won’t tolerate that.”

Akhtar added that Naqvi is keen to reform Pakistan cricket but is falling short because he is not receiving the right guidance.

“Mohsin Naqvi is a good man and he wants to do good work. But he just doesn’t get the right advice. He is the most powerful man in Pakistan cricket, but he is not picking the right people to select the team,” he said.

Pakistan will face Namibia in their final group-stage match on Wednesday at the SSC Stadium in Colombo. Namibia defeated the USA and the Netherlands in their first two games before suffering a heavy loss to India. Pakistan must win to secure a place in the Super 8 stage.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal

Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.

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