It took less than 24 hours for former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar to scramble to clarify his blunt criticism of PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi that triggered controversy. After Pakistan’s thrashing by India in a T20 World Cup match on Sunday, appearing on an Indian news channel, Akhtar called Naqvi “incompetent and illiterate”, and the next day he appeared on Pakistan’s ARY News and back tracked on his comments.
He explained that his words were misunderstood and not directed personally at Naqvi. “The words ‘incompetent and jaahil (illiterate)’ that I used were not meant for Mohsin Naqvi bhai. It looked like I said those words for him. The incompetency topic I spoke about was from a broader perspective: that such a person can destroy any institution. My hint was not towards Mohsin Naqvi but the top brass that is running international cricket. But the television channel twisted it.”
He also went on to defend Naqvi, saying the PCB chief has the right intentions and want to help Pakistan cricket.
“In the same programme, I also said that we should not say wrong things about Mohsin Naqvi, he is a good guy. He wants to help Pakistan cricket but does not get the right advice,” Akhtar clarified.
After clarifying his earlier comments, Akhtar admitted he was upset with Naqvi for softening his stance on Pakistan’s proposed boycott of India during the T20 World Cup.
“I am angry with him as he took a stand but did not stick with it. The entire community was with him. He could have asked me about taking the U-turn.”
After Pakistan’s drubbing on Sunday, Akhtar during an interview with ABP News, came down heavily on Naqvi and questioned his ability to run Pakistan cricket.
“If you make me the chairman of a channel, how would I know how to run it? Now there is a person who does not know, and he is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. So what can be done now? How will the team function like this?
“Do you know what the biggest crime in the world is? Giving a big job to an incompetent and illiterate person.”
Also, during his ARY News appearance, Akhtar did not hold back in his assessment of Pakistan’s current players either. He expressed concerns about the fitness and form of some of the senior players like Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam following their defeat to India.
