“The words 'incompetent and illiterate' were not meant for Mohsin Naqvi bhai” - Shoaib Akhtar makes an embarrassing U-turn

Former Pakistan pacer and commentator Shoaib Akhtar took a major U-turn after taking a dig at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi post India’s 61-run win over Pakistan on Sunday, in Colombo.

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After India’s victory, Akhtar had termed Naqvi "incompetent and illiterate". However, a few hours later, he was quick to take a U-turn, stating that his comments came in the larger context of the game in Pakistan and were not directed towards 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 (said while fumbling repeatedly) but the top brass that is running international cricket. But the television channel twisted it. 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 said on a local Pakistani show.

Later, Akhtar also asserted that he is angry with Naqvi for the U-turn he made on the boycott decision against India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and not for the way he is running the board.

"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," Akhtar added.

For the unversed, Akhtar took a dig at Naqvi right after India’s thumping win over their arch-rivals, terming him an incompetent and illiterate. Furthermore, he added that giving a job to an illiterate like Naqvi is the biggest crime in the world. 

"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," Akhtar had stated after the match.

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