Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar unleashed a blistering verbal assault on PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and former captain Babar Azam following Pakistan’s humiliating 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Rawalpindi Express called Naqvi “incompetent and illiterate” during a fiery television appearance, questioning how Pakistan cricket could prosper under leadership he deemed unqualified, while simultaneously blasting Babar as a “superstar who cannot win you a game.”

Akhtar’s Explosive Indian TV Rant

Appearing on ABP News immediately after Pakistan’s comprehensive defeat at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Akhtar held nothing back in his assessment of Pakistan cricket’s crisis. His anger spilled over in a rant that targeted everyone from the PCB administration to star players who failed when the nation needed them most.

“We were nowhere in the match. The Shaheen played… he was bowling at 125 kmph. This is not the requirement of modern-day cricket. These are not the talents that will handle pressure. For the last 15-20 years, there has been no investment,” Akhtar thundered, highlighting Shaheen Shah Afridi’s significant pace decline as symbolic of deeper structural problems plaguing Pakistani cricket.

The criticism of Shaheen’s reduced pace struck a nerve. The left-arm quick, once capable of bowling at 145-150 kmph consistently, has seen his average speed drop dramatically. During the India match, Shaheen’s velocity dipped to around 125-130 kmph range - speeds more associated with medium-pacers than express bowlers. This loss of his primary weapon has coincided with declining wicket-taking ability in crucial matches.

“The sad reality of the situation is that while we fought with India on the ground at one point, today we can’t even dream of beating them,” Akhtar lamented, capturing the despair felt by Pakistani fans watching their team outclassed in every department by their arch-rivals.

Attacking Naqvi and Babar

Akhtar’s most controversial comments targeted PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, a political appointee who assumed the role in 2024 with no previous cricket administration experience. “One guy who does not know anything has become the Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman. What can you do? How will the team run?” Akhtar asked rhetorically, questioning Naqvi’s qualifications to oversee Pakistan cricket’s renaissance.

He escalated his attack dramatically, calling Naqvi “incompetent and jaahil (illiterate in Urdu),” insisting he wasn’t fit to chair the PCB. “The biggest crime in the world is to give a particular job to incompetent people,” Akhtar declared, suggesting Naqvi’s appointment represented everything wrong with Pakistan cricket’s governance structure.

Turning his attention to Babar Azam, Pakistan’s most celebrated batsman of the current generation, Akhtar delivered another devastating blow. “You have made a superstar out of a player who cannot win you a game,” he said, dismissing Babar’s statistical achievements as meaningless without match-winning performances when stakes are highest.

The criticism of Babar reflects frustration that despite averaging over 40 in T20 internationals and holding numerous batting records, the former captain consistently fails in pressure situations against top opposition. His dismissal for just five runs against India - caught playing an injudicious slog sweep against Axar Patel - exemplified this pattern of failure.

Match Recap Shows Dominance

The match itself justified Akhtar’s fury. Pakistan won the toss and elected to field, but India’s batsmen treated their bowling with disdain. Ishan Kishan’s breathtaking 77 off 40 balls on a challenging pitch set the tone, supported by Suryakumar Yadav’s 32 and Shivam Dube’s quickfire 27. India posted 175 for seven - their highest-ever T20 World Cup total against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s chase collapsed spectacularly. Hardik Pandya dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for a duck in the first over, with Rinku Singh taking a top-edge catch. Jasprit Bumrah then destroyed Pakistan’s top order in his opening over, trapping Saim Ayub lbw for six and removing captain Salman Ali Agha for four. Pakistan staggered to 13 for three after just two overs.

Babar Azam’s dismissal for five off seven balls - bowled by Axar Patel attempting an ugly slog sweep - left Pakistan at 34 for four in the fifth over. Usman Khan fought valiantly with 44 off 34 balls including six boundaries and a six, but received no support as wickets tumbled regularly.

The middle order crumbled as Axar completed a brilliant stumping to remove Usman, while Varun Chakravarthy and Tilak Varma strangled Pakistan’s lower order. Hardik Pandya completed the rout by cleaning up Usman Tariq, bundling Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs - a margin of defeat that left no doubt about India’s comprehensive superiority.

India’s Bowling Excellence

Four Indian bowlers claimed two wickets each, showcasing the depth and balance of their attack. Axar Patel finished with two for 29 in four overs, combining wicket-taking threat with economical bowling. Hardik Pandya’s two for 16 in three overs provided early breakthroughs that set Pakistan back irreversibly.

Jasprit Bumrah’s devastating spell of two for 17 in just two overs epitomized his mastery. His ability to swing the new ball at high pace while maintaining pinpoint accuracy makes him virtually unplayable in powerplay overs. Varun Chakravarthy completed the quartet with two for 17 in three overs, his mystery spin proving impossible for Pakistan’s batsmen to decipher.

India’s eighth T20 World Cup victory over Pakistan in nine attempts extended their dominance to near-total supremacy. The 61-run margin represented one of their most comprehensive victories, leaving Pakistan facing questions about whether the gap between these historic rivals has become unbridgeable.

Broader Context of Failure

Akhtar’s outburst reflected frustrations building over years of Pakistan’s decline relative to India. While India has developed robust domestic structures producing endless supplies of talented cricketers, Pakistan’s system has stagnated. Political interference, constant captaincy changes, and lack of strategic vision have created instability preventing sustained success.

The comment about “15-20 years of no investment” highlights how Pakistan squandered their natural advantages. Despite producing raw talent regularly, the absence of proper coaching structures, fitness programs, and mental conditioning support means Pakistani cricketers arrive at international level underprepared compared to Indian counterparts who benefit from IPL exposure and world-class training facilities.

Shaheen’s pace decline symbolizes this broader failure. A bowler who should be entering his physical prime at age 25 instead shows signs of wear and tear associated with much older fast bowlers. The PCB’s inability to manage his workload or provide rehabilitation programs that maintain his speed represents organizational incompetence that Akhtar condemned.