Pakistan cricket great Shahid Afridi has renewed calls for Mohsin Naqvi to resign as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), arguing.
That the role cannot be combined with his duties as the country’s Interior Minister. Afridi, one of the most influential voices in Pakistan cricket, said the game needs “full-time attention” during a period of turmoil. “This is a big job that requires time and commitment,” Afridi told Telecom Asia Sport. “The PCB is totally different from the Interior Ministry, and it must be kept separate. Pakistan cricket needs special attention, and Naqvi cannot rely solely on advisers who do not understand the game.”
Afridi has previously voiced concerns about Naqvi’s dual responsibilities, but his latest remarks come in the wake of Pakistan’s troubled Asia Cup campaign. The former all-rounder accused Naqvi of lacking cricketing knowledge and surrounding himself with poor advisers, doubling down on his criticism after Pakistan’s disappointing performances in the tournament.
Naqvi’s tenure has been marked by controversy. He faced backlash over India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan players during the Asia Cup group stage, an incident that briefly led to boycott threats from the PCB. He also drew criticism for sharing a provocative social media post referencing past military clashes with India.
On the field, Pakistan fell well short against arch-rivals India, losing all three meetings, including the final. The crisis deepened when Naqvi, in his capacity as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, refused to present the winners’ trophy after India’s victory. Instead, an ACC official quietly removed the silverware and medals from the podium. Naqvi later insisted that Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav would have to collect the trophy in person from the ACC headquarters in Dubai, before reportedly apologising at an ACC meeting on September 30 after criticism from BCCI representatives.
With Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign exposing both sporting and administrative weaknesses, pressure on Naqvi is mounting. Calls for his resignation are growing louder within Pakistan, while the BCCI is said to be weighing an official complaint against him. Afridi’s intervention has added fresh momentum to demands for change at the top of Pakistan cricket.
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