Mohsin Naqvi sat in the stands in Colombo as Pakistan once again crumbled against India. After weeks of noise, boycott threats, ICC meetings and political posturing, this was supposed to be Pakistan’s statement night. Instead, it became another painful reminder of the gulf between the two sides. Within hours of the 61-run defeat, Shoaib Akhtar had unloaded, and he didn’t hold back.
Before the match, the PCB had taken a hard line. Pakistan had threatened to boycott the India game in solidarity with Bangladesh after the ICC refused to relocate fixtures. There were demands for increased ICC revenue share, revival of bilateral cricket with India, and even gestures like handshakes being restored. Eventually, after ICC warnings of sanctions and legal consequences, Pakistan backed down and agreed to play with any of their demands getting met.
Shoaib Akhtar tears into Mohsin Naqvi
Speaking to ABP News, former Pakistan fast bowler Akhtar launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its leadership, taking direct aim at chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Pakistan were outplayed in every department. After allowing India to post 175, they folded for 114 without putting up any resistance. Akhtar was particularly critical of senior players.
“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,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar tore apart Naqvi’s credibility. For those unaware, Naqvi isn’t a cricket administrator. He’s a journalist turned politician. Currently, he’s Pakistan’s Minister of Interior and Narcotics Control as well. Ever since he has joined PCB as the chief, Pakistan’s on-the-field performances have been poor, but the political drama has multiplied.
“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 that Pakistan have failed to invest properly in talent for the last 15-20 years and claimed that competing with India now feels unrealistic.
Cricket
Should India rest Jasprit Bumrah & Hardik Pandya against the Netherlands for Super 8 preparations?
