Shoaib Akhtar has attempted to walk back his scathing criticism of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, less than 24 hours after calling him “incompetent and illiterate” on Indian television. The former pacer, speaking on ARY News, claimed his harsh words were aimed at cricket administration broadly, not Naqvi personally. “The words ‘incompetent and jaahil’ that I used were not meant for Mohsin Naqvi bhai,” Akhtar said, while fumbling repeatedly during his explanation.

His initial remarks on ABP News had been blunt, questioning Naqvi’s qualifications for the PCB chairman role. “Do you know what the biggest crime in the world is? Giving a big job to an incompetent and illiterate person,” Akhtar declared, adding that Naqvi’s sudden U-turn on boycotting India in the T20 World Cup had angered him. The controversy erupted as Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat to India, prompting Akhtar to also criticize star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi.

Akhtar’s attempt at clarification came across as awkward and unconvincing, with the cricket commentator repeatedly stumbling over his words while trying to explain his position. The incident highlights the volatile nature of cricket commentary in the subcontinent, where former players often make headlines with their outspoken views. Akhtar concluded his remarks with a sweeping assessment, stating that everyone involved in Pakistan cricket – including himself, the cricket board, and media – shares blame for the team’s current struggles.