Shoaib Akhtar is in the headlines again this week after he appeared to walk back his harsh words towards Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The former pacer called Naqvi “incompetent and illiterate” during an appearance on an Indian news channel, less than 24 hours after he tried to subtly retract his remarks on Pakistani television. However, his efforts came across as clumsy and clumsy.
Speaking to ARY News, Akhtar insisted that his harsh words were directed at the wider state of cricket administration in Pakistan and not Naqvi personally.
“The words ‘incompetent and jaahil (illiteracy)’ that I used were not directed at Mohsin Naqvi bhai. It appears that I was saying these words for him. The topic of incompetence that I spoke of was in a broader perspective: such a person can destroy any institution. My insinuation was not directed at Mohsin Naqvi (while groping repeatedly), but was directed at the higher-ups who run international cricket. But in the same show, I also said that we should not say bad things about Mohsin Naqvi, he is a good person who wants to help Pakistan cricket but is not getting the right advice,” Akhtar explained.
He added that his dissatisfaction with Naqvi was limited to the PCB chief’s sudden change of stance on the T20 World Cup boycott of India. “I was angry with him because he took a stand and didn’t follow through. The whole community supported him. He could have asked me if I was going to turn around,” he said.
Shoaib Akhtar’s original words to Mohsin Naqvi
Akhtar’s initial criticism was blunt. Speaking to ABP News, he questioned Naqvi’s suitability for the post of PCB chairman. “If you make me the chairman of a channel, how will I know how to run it? Now there is one person who doesn’t know, he is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. So what can be done now? How will the team function?” he asked. “You know what the biggest crime in the world is? Giving a big job to an incompetent and illiterate person.”
The former pacer also weighed in on the criticism received by Pakistan’s star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi after their loss to India. “Shaheen is not in good shape. He cannot bowl faster than 125 kmph. Secondly, Babar Azam only works if you have him as an opener. He has no use in the middle order. This format does not suit him. Shadab is also an unusual choice, which I don’t understand. I don’t think we can play against India. They are playing a game of cricket that is 50 years ahead of us.”
He concluded with a comprehensive assessment of Pakistan cricket. “Everyone is to blame for this – myself, the cricket board, the media, everyone. We picked the wrong people and made them stars. We didn’t invest in cricket infrastructure.”
