A public showdown erupted in Pakistan cricket on Saturday when current PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and former chairman Najam Sethi exchanged sharp words on X (formerly Twitter) moments after Rashid Latif issued an unconditional apology to the board.

 

Latif apologised for linking Mohammad Rizwan’s removal as ODI captain with the wicketkeeper batter’s public support for Palestine, a claim that led the PCB to file a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. 

 

NCCIA summoned Latif for questioning, after which he approached the Islamabad High Court and challenged the inquiry.

 

 

In his detailed post on X, Latif clarified his stance.

 

“My principal contention was related to potential violations of the advisories upon such advertising issued by the Government of Pakistan,” he wrote.

 

He added, “At no point, whether inadvertently or deliberately, have I ever sought or intended to implicate any individual including players, board members, or other stakeholders in wrongdoing.”

 

Latif admitted his reference to Rizwan’s stance on Palestine was an “unwarranted” and “unfounded” assumption.

 

“I deeply regret any distress or offence that my comments may have caused to the general public, or more specifically, to the Pakistan Cricket Board,” he said. “I offer my sincere apologies for any unintended harm arising from my remarks which I withdraw unconditionally.”

 

But the apology immediately sparked a confrontation on X. 

 

Najam Sethi stepped in to defend Latif and criticised the inquiry. “I am shocked at the trumped up FIA inquiry against ex cricket captain @iRashidLatif68 for his critical comments on social media against PCB policies,” Sethi wrote. “I urge cricket administrators to desist from such repressive tactics and expect the judiciary to protect our freedoms.”

 

Mohsin Naqvi fired back within minutes.

 

“Your comments are completely misplaced, ill timed, and factually incorrect,” he replied.

 

Naqvi said the PCB acted only to counter false allegations.

 

“The PCB’s action against Rashid Latif was never about silencing criticism, it was about addressing the deliberate spread of false and defamatory allegations,” he wrote. “We welcome his apology and offer a clean slate.”

 

Sethi responded again, refusing to step back.

 

“No sir, my concern is not misplaced. I don’t think PCB should use the FIA to silence critics even if their views are misplaced or factually incorrect!”

 

The PCB appointed Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain in October 2024, but replaced him with Shaheen Shah Afridi on October 20, 2025, after internal performance reviews. 

 

Shaheen later said Rizwan “decided himself to take a step back,” signalling that the decision was not political.