Former Pakistan fast-bowling icon Shoaib Akhtar sparked controversy with a fiery rant against PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi following Pakistan's 61-run thrashing by India in the T20 World Cup. Less than 24 hours later, the "Rawalpindi Express" made a stunning reversal, calling Naqvi "a good guy" and downplaying his initial outburst.

Akhtar's comments erupted during an appearance on an Indian television channel right after Pakistan's dismal performance in Colombo. Labeling Naqvi as "incompetent and illiterate," he slammed the PCB leadership for appointing someone without deep cricket expertise to steer the board. "The biggest crime is giving such a big responsibility to the wrong person," Akhtar vented, linking it to chronic issues like flawed team selections and overhyping players such as Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. The tirade reflected broader frustrations with Pakistan cricket's slide, including leadership instability and lagging infrastructure. Akhtar didn't spare himself or the media, admitting shared blame for inflating expectations without grassroots fixes.

By the next day, Akhtar was on ARY News in Pakistan, retracting his words amid visible unease. "I wasn't referring to Mohsin Naqvi bhai with those terms," he clarified, redirecting ire toward "international cricket's top officials" and accusing the Indian channel of misrepresenting him. He praised Naqvi's efforts to reform the PCB, suggesting the chairman just needs sounder counsel. Akhtar chalked up his slip to post-match anger, specifically Naqvi's refusal to boycott India-hosted T20s. Social media erupted with memes dubbing it a "Pakistani U-turn"—outspoken overseas, subdued back home.

This episode underscores mounting pressure on Naqvi, a former politician now navigating cricket's minefield amid hybrid hosting models and Indo-Pak tensions. It echoes past spats, like Waqar Younis criticizing Misbah-ul-Haq before joining his team. As the T20 World Cup intensifies, Akhtar's flip has fans questioning pundit credibility and PCB accountability.