Former Pakistan pace legend Shoaib Akhtar has gone nuclear on PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and captain Babar Azam following Pakistan's humiliating 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026, calling out deep-rooted mismanagement and misplaced priorities in a blistering on-air rant.

India set the tone with a competitive 175/7, thanks to Ishan Kishan's fiery 77 off 40 balls, backed by Suryakumar Yadav's 32 and Shivam Dube's brisk 27. Pakistan's chase crumbled spectacularly—down to 13/3 early against the lethal duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya—before folding for just 114 in 18 overs. Usman Khan's gritty 44 offered brief resistance, but Axar Patel's 2/29 sealed India's dominance, extending their T20 World Cup head-to-head record over Pakistan to a lopsided 8-1.

In a no-holds-barred segment on ABP News, Akhtar labeled Naqvi "jahil, incompetent, and ignorant," blasting his leadership as the "biggest crime" plaguing Pakistani cricket. "A guy who knows nothing is running the PCB—no investment in talent for years," he thundered, spotlighting Shaheen Afridi's pedestrian 125 kmph spells as evidence of systemic neglect. Turning to Babar, Akhtar didn't mince words: "You've made a player who can't win matches into a superstar," urging a complete overhaul.

Akhtar's outburst echoes Pakistan's recurring big-match meltdowns, much like their 2024 campaign woes that sparked nationwide fury. He contrasted this with India's structured talent pipeline through the NCA, which has produced clutch performers like Rinku Singh, who shone with crucial catches in this clash. With a do-or-die Super 8s clash against Namibia ahead, the PCB faces mounting calls for reform amid Naqvi's ongoing silence.