Former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar launched a thinkly veiled attack on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and his leadership after Pakistan's humiliating loss to India at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan were handed a 61-run defeat by India on Sunday, Feb. 15.
In a post-match discussion, Akhtar expressed his disappointment with the PCB leadership and the players led by skipper Salman Ali Agha.
Akhtar also targeted Pakistan's senior players — pacer Shaheen Afridi, middle-order batter Babar Azam and all-rounder Shadab Khan — who failed to shine at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. While Afridi conceded 1 for 31 off his 2 overs, Shadab had to be taken off the attack after giving away 17 in his first over. Also in the run chase, Babar got out slog-sweeping on 4. They were bundled up for 114 in response to India's 175/7.
"Now, one guy doesn't even know he's the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. How will the team run now? You're saying one guy, you've made him a superstar, he can't win a single match. You've made him a star who can't win a single living match," said Akhtar, as quoted by India Today.
"Brother, when you make these kinds of stars, when you choose them, when you pick them, then you'll have this problem only. But again, the point is, if you see, you know what the biggest crime in the world is? The biggest crime in the world is that you give a big job to an incompetent person,” he added.
Akhtar didn't name Naqvi, but reserved the harshest criticism for him and his PCB regime after he spent the last few months under the spotlight for his political interference and diplomatic posturing in Bangladesh's rejection to come to India for the T20 World Cup.
"When you give a big job to an incompetent and ignorant person, he will destroy the country. He will bring down any organisation. The example is in front of you, you're intelligent enough to understand," Akhtar added.
Pakistan will next meet Namibia in their last Group A game on Wednesday, Feb. 18. A defeat to the Namibians could send Salman Agha's team packing for an early exit, given they stand with a lesser NRR than the USA.
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