'Senseless and headless chicken management': Shoaib Akhtar demands educated leader to head PCB in place of Mohsin Naqvi

Shoaib Akhtar calls for an educated leader to replace Mohsin Naqvi

For Pakistan cricket fans and their former players, the past several days have been difficult. It has been difficult to accept the loss against India in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Experts and former players have expressed their opinions on the defeat and how Pakistan fell short of their expectations since the tournament's summit clash fiasco.

Shoaib Akhtar, the former fast bowler known as the "Rawalpindi Express," is the most recent addition to this lengthy list. With Pakistan's cricket culture at its core, the pacer let go his rage in his most recent interview with ARY News. According to Akhtar, Pakistan no longer values match-winning players and strong personalities over obedient cricketers and timid decision-makers.

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The former pacer claims that years of soft leadership and risk-averse governance are to blame for what happened to Pakistan in Dubai.

“Humey ab shareef bacche chahiyen, jo aath baje curfew lagake ghar pey baith jaayen. Cricket board ko in jaisey bechare, lallu-kattu chahiye. They don’t want strong personalities. This is the reflection of the PCB policies,” Akhtar said. (We only want well-behaved kids who would sit inside their rooms by accepting a curfew at 8 pm. The cricket board now wants timid personalities. They don’t want strong personalities. This is the reflection of the PCB policies.)

Akhtar's criticism extended beyond the administration and management. He also targeted the captaincy, saying, “Where will the attitude come when the captain is not inspiring? The captain is a reflection of the board’s choices.”

The pacer's message was straightforward: timid cricket generates timid governance.

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He also dismantled the team's selection and strategy calls. “Senseless and headless chicken management. The team combinations weren’t right, the captaincy wasn’t spot-on, and they weren’t willing to listen to us,” Akhtar further added.

Shoaib Akhtar has a structural solution for Pakistan cricket's current predicament. He wants the board to support aggressive talent instead of weeding out big characters. His unwillingness to remain in the administration and his inherent caution were both reflected in his statement. On which Akhtar said, “From the first day after my retirement, I had decided I will never join PCB, as whoever has gone there has never come out with respect. I work in TV, take money, and sit. These guys don’t want strong personalities.”

He also provided analysis of the India-Pakistan final.  He expressed a pretty direct opinion about the game's pivotal moment. The choice to bowl Haris Rauf in the final over was referred to by Akhtar as a "big mistake." He went on to say that the season's confused thinking was reflected in this previously poor decision made under pressure.

His criticism of the current administration was the harshest, despite the fact that he was rather direct and did not hesitate to express his actual opinions during the conversation.

Speaking on Mohsin Naqvi, the current PCB Chairman, and how he is managing the board, Akhtar said, “Now there is Mohsin Naqvi, next time koi aur saab aa jayenge. Unless you bring in a visionary, educated man....history will remember if you start this.”