Mumbai: In the swirling aftermath of the Asia Cup final’s infamous trophy snub, Pakistan cricket icon Shahid Afridi has unleashed a pointed salvo at beleaguered PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, urging him to relinquish one of his high-stakes roles to avert further chaos.
The controversy erupted when Naqvi, also helming the Asian Cricket Council, abruptly exited the final presentation ceremony without handing the gleaming trophy to victorious India — sparking widespread outrage and memes across the cricket fraternity. Naqvi, now juggling PCB oversight, ACC presidency, and national security as Home Minister, faces accusations of overstretching himself.
Speaking exclusively to Telecom Asia, the swashbuckling former all-rounder didn’t mince words. “My advice — or rather, plea — to Mohsin Naqvi sahib is this: You hold two immensely vital positions, each demanding undivided attention. PCB and the Home Ministry are worlds apart; they must remain separate,” Afridi asserted. “This is a crucial call that needs swift action.”
Afridi didn’t stop there, jabbing at Naqvi’s self-admitted cricket novice status. “He shouldn’t lean blindly on advisors. “Surround yourself with genuine cricket connoisseurs,” he counselled, implying a need for sharper counsel within the board.
Sources whisper that Afridi has echoed these concerns directly to Pakistan’s Army Chief, amplifying the pressure on Naqvi to prioritise.
With whispers of internal discord growing louder, these remarks underscore mounting unease over leadership overload in Pakistan cricket. Will Naqvi heed the Boom Boom’s boom or double down amid the din? For a board already reeling, the clock is ticking.
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