Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has clarified that the words he said on an Indian TV channel, apparently targeting Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, were taken out of context, adding that Indian television misrepresented what he actually said.

 

Akhtar had come under scrutiny after comments he made on an Indian TV channel following Pakistan's 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday, where he used the words "incompetent" and "ignorant" while questioing the people in positions of power.

 

But Akhtar on Monday sought to set the record straight. "The terms I used, like 'incompetent' and 'ignorant', did not mean I was targeting Mohsin bhai. My reference was to those running international cricket. Indian TV presented it in the wrong way," he said.

 

He also pointed to something he said in the same programme that went largely unnoticed. 

 

"In that very show, I made it clear that nothing wrong should be said about Mohsin bhai and that I will not tolerate it. Mohsin Naqvi is a good person and he wants to help Pakistan cricket," Akhtar said.

 

The clarification came after his remarks on the Indian channel sparked a wave of reactions. Speaking after the defeat, Akhtar had not held back.

 

"Now, one guy doesn't even know about cricket and he's the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. How will the team be run now? You're saying one guy, you've made him a superstar, he can't win a single match. You've made him a star who can't bowl 10 overs," he said, without naming anyone directly.

 

He had also delivered a broader warning. "When you give a big job to an incompetent and ignorant person, he will destroy the country. He will bring down any organisation. The example is in front of you; you're intelligent enough to understand," Akhtar said.

 

While he named no one, his comments were widely read as a reference to Naqvi and to senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, both of whom drew heavy criticism for their performances against India. 

 

Babar scored just five runs before getting out playing an unnecessary shot, while Shaheen conceded 31 runs in two overs.

 

The defeat itself was bruising. Seven Pakistan batters failed to reach double figures as the side collapsed for 114 chasing 176, handing India their fourth T20 international victory over Pakistan in the last six months.