Shoaib Akhtar fires veiled shot at Mohsin Naqvi post World Cup exit: Clueless management, something's wrong in PCB

Frustrated by Pakistan’s failure to reach the last four in four successive ICC tournaments, Shoaib Akhtar first lashed out at the team management

Updated on: Mar 1, 2026, 11:06:59 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took a veiled dig at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi following Pakistan’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday. Although Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 fixture, they failed to boost their net run rate sufficiently to leapfrog New Zealand in Group 2 and were consequently eliminated from semifinal contention.

Pakistan did not qualify for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2026

Frustrated by Pakistan’s failure to reach the last four in four successive ICC tournaments — including league-stage exits at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy — Akhtar first lashed out at the team management, branding them “clueless” over their selection decisions.

“Pakistan’s management looks completely clueless. Today’s team selection only confirmed that the XI picked over the last 15 days was wrong. There was one clear error — Saim Ayub should have played instead of Khawaja Nafay. Saim could have contributed with the ball as well,” Akhtar said on Pakistani show Tapmad.

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“This selection showed that when you pick the right players for the right roles, they perform. Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener, yet he wasn’t played earlier. Today, Farhan, Fakhar and Abrar all delivered. That tells you everything.”

Akhtar then turned his attention to Naqvi, holding the PCB chief indirectly accountable for the continued failures at ICC events. While acknowledging that Naqvi appears committed to restoring Pakistan’s stature in world cricket and possesses the authority and resources to effect change, the former pacer questioned whether the chairman has surrounded himself with the right advisors.

“I have nothing against Mohsin Naqvi. From what I hear, he is a good person. He is one of the most powerful chairmen in Pakistan’s cricket history. He has influence, resources and authority. But if he cannot build a strong management structure, and the team has failed to qualify in four consecutive tournaments, then something is seriously wrong within the board.

“I understand that he may not be a cricket expert and genuinely wants the team to do well. But is he seeking the right advice? It doesn’t appear so. This is a request to Naqvi: the people advising you are making you look bad. The selection committee is not doing you justice.

“He may want success for Pakistan cricket, but the system around him is not helping. The real question is — who are these people? At this stage, Naqvi remains Pakistan cricket’s last hope, but he needs the right support structure to turn things around.”

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.Read More

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