Speaking on ARY News, Akhtar claimed his harsh words were aimed at cricket administration in Pakistan, not Naqvi personally. He expressed frustration with the PCB chief's sudden U-turn on the boycott stance against India in the T20 World Cup.
The former fast bowler had initially questioned Naqvi's suitability for the PCB chairman role during an appearance on an Indian news channel, stating that giving such a position to an 'incompetent and illiterate person' was 'the biggest crime in the world.' His attempt at retraction came across as fumbling and awkward, according to reports.