Chairman of PCB Mohsin Naqvi speaks during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 curtain raiser event at Diwan-e-Aam, Lahore Fort on February 16, 2025 in Lahore. — ICC
Kamran Akmal Slams PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi: “Resign If You Can’t Control It”
In the aftermath of Pakistan’s crushing defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI, former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has erupted with a blunt and scathing critique of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The former cricketer has gone public with his frustration over the team’s continuous decline, urging the PCB chief to either step down or take urgent action to rescue the national setup.
The outburst came via Akmal’s YouTube channel, where he did not mince words, directly questioning Naqvi’s leadership and the overall lack of accountability in Pakistan cricket.
“Don’t Ruin Your Reputation”: Akmal’s Direct Message to Mohsin Naqvi
“It is shameful. The PCB chairman should consider that if he can’t control things, he should resign and step down. Don’t ruin your reputation. If you don’t want to do that, then improve the status of the current team,” — Kamran Akmal
Akmal’s call for Naqvi’s resignation wasn’t just a personal jab—it reflected the sentiments of a large portion of the disillusioned fanbase that has grown weary of Pakistan’s consistently underwhelming performances across formats.
Tactical Chaos and Bowling Meltdown: Akmal Takes Aim at Team Strategy
The former cricket player also didn’t mince words when analyzing Pakistan’s performance on the field. Akmal blamed the batting unit’s lack of strategy and bad bowling decisions for the team’s failure to perform even under ideal circumstances.
“If Pakistan’s bowlers can’t perform on such a turf, where will they deliver? In Asia, they say there is nothing for bowlers. On venues where there is something on offer, they don’t do anything. Should they play disabled players against us?”
He questioned bowlers’ consistency and discipline, emphasizing that they couldn’t take advantage of bowler-friendly pitches. Calls for a bowling department overhaul have been heightened by the team’s recurrent breakdowns, which were evident throughout the New Zealand series.
Leadership Gap and Batting Collapse: “You’re Ruining Pakistani Cricket”
Akmal also voiced serious concerns about Pakistan’s incapacity to cope with pressure in crucial situations and the batting lineup’s weakness.
He reserved sharp criticism for the senior players and the leadership group.
“Faheem Ashraf saved us, but we don’t need runs from Naseem Shah; we need wickets from him. When Babar Azam got out, the batting lineup was exposed. I didn’t see anyone regret the result, except the coach. You are destroying cricket in Pakistan.”
His comments demonstrate growing concern over Pakistan’s lack of poise and planning in crucial games.
Recap of the Second ODI: Collapse Exposes Pakistan’s Core Weaknesses Again
Serious batting and leadership flaws were revealed by Pakistan’s catastrophic 293-run chase in the second ODI.
- Top order failure: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, and Babar Azam all collapsed cheaply and couldn’t sustain the innings.
- Middle-order crash: The failure of Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha to work together led to Pakistan’s defeat at 48-5.
- Lower-order resistance: Despite Faheem Ashraf’s fifty-run effort to keep the innings going, Pakistan fell for 208.
New Zealand’s 84-run triumph, which gave them an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, added to Pakistan’s existing international scars.
Growing PCB Pressure: Is More Anarchy or Change Needed?
Kamran Akmal’s scathing assessment indicates that pressure from insiders and former players who want quick changes is increasing, even though PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has so far maintained a cautious public posture.
Akmal is not the only one who has these worries. If structural and leadership reforms are not done, many cricket fans, commentators, and former players believe that Pakistani cricket could face a more serious problem prior to the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
In conclusion, New Zealand improves while Pakistan struggles…
The stark disparity between Pakistan’s and New Zealand’s performances demonstrates more than simply skill; it also demonstrates organization, mental clarity, and a commitment to team building. While New Zealand continues to produce fresh talent and easily replace voids, Pakistan is enmeshed in political infighting and unreliability.
The Napier defeat and the more significant setback on the New Zealand tour have highlighted long-standing problems in Pakistani cricket, including a lack of vision, inconsistent selection, and questionable leadership both on and off the field.
Unless these issues are addressed, criticism like Kamran Akmal’s will become more frequent—and increasingly difficult for the PCB to ignore.
FAQs
Q1. What did Kamran Akmal say about PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi?
Kamran Akmal urged Mohsin Naqvi to resign if he cannot improve the team, saying, “Don’t ruin your reputation.”
Q2. What is the reason for the criticism of Pakistan following the New Zealand series?
Pakistan showed subpar play in every category as they dropped a few of games during the tour, notably the second ODI by 84 runs.
Q3. In the second ODI, whose Pakistani player stood out the most?
Naseem Shah contributed 51 runs and Faheem Ashraf put up a valiant half-century, but it was too little, too late.
Q4. What issues did Kamran Akmal highlight?
He pointed to poor leadership, poor bowling discipline, a lack of accountability, and a lack of batting strategy.
Q5. How many matches has Pakistan won on their New Zealand tour thus far?
Only one win in seven games, including T20Is and ODIs, highlights the issue. Missed the matches…? You can watch all the highlights on myco now!
