Shoaib Akhtar Questions PCB Leadership After Pakistan's T20 World Cup Elimination
Former Pakistan fast bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar has launched a scathing critique of the Pakistan Cricket Board's leadership following Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup 2026. Despite concluding their Super 8 campaign with a victory against Sri Lanka, Pakistan failed to advance to the semifinals due to New Zealand's superior net run rate in Group 2.
Pakistan's Tournament Failures Continue
This elimination represents Pakistan's fourth consecutive failure at major ICC tournaments, following early exits at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy. The pattern of underperformance has raised serious questions about the team's management and selection processes.
"Pakistan's management looks completely clueless," Akhtar stated bluntly during an appearance on Tapmad. "Today's team selection only confirmed that the XI picked over the last 15 days was wrong."
Selection Errors Highlighted
Akhtar specifically pointed to what he called a clear selection error that cost Pakistan throughout the tournament. "There was one clear error — Saim Ayub should have played instead of Khawaja Nafay. Saim could have contributed with the ball as well," the former speedster explained.
The cricketer-turned-analyst noted that Pakistan's strong performance against Sri Lanka in their final match demonstrated what had been missing earlier in the competition. "This selection showed that when you pick the right players for the right roles, they perform. Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener, yet he wasn't played earlier. Today, Farhan, Fakhar and Abrar all delivered. That tells you everything."
Focus on PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi
Akhtar then directed his attention toward PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, suggesting that while the chief may have good intentions, the structure surrounding him is failing the national team.
"I have nothing against Mohsin Naqvi. From what I hear, he is a good person," Akhtar clarified. "He is one of the most powerful chairmen in Pakistan's cricket history. He has influence, resources and authority. But if he cannot build a strong management structure, and the team has failed to qualify in four consecutive tournaments, then something is seriously wrong within the board."
Systemic Problems Identified
The former cricketer questioned whether Naqvi was receiving appropriate advice from cricket experts. "I understand that he may not be a cricket expert and genuinely wants the team to do well. But is he seeking the right advice? It doesn't appear so. This is a request to Naqvi: the people advising you are making you look bad. The selection committee is not doing you justice."
Akhtar emphasized that while Naqvi might desire success for Pakistan cricket, the system around him is not providing adequate support. "He may want success for Pakistan cricket, but the system around him is not helping. The real question is — who are these people? At this stage, Naqvi remains Pakistan cricket's last hope, but he needs the right support structure to turn things around."
Broader Implications for Pakistan Cricket
The criticism comes at a crucial time for Pakistan cricket, which has now experienced multiple tournament disappointments in recent years. Akhtar's comments highlight growing concerns about the decision-making processes within the PCB and the quality of advice reaching the chairman's office.
Pakistan's final victory against Sri Lanka, while providing a positive end to their campaign, ultimately proved insufficient to overcome earlier tournament shortcomings. The team's inability to progress beyond the Super 8 stage continues a troubling trend of underachievement at major international competitions.
