Akhtar attempted a retraction less than 24 hours later on Pakistani television, insisting his harsh words were aimed at the broader state of cricket administration in Pakistan, not Naqvi personally. 'The words 'incompetent and jaahil (illiterate)' that I used were not meant for Mohsin Naqvi bhai,' he explained while fumbling repeatedly.
The former pacer admitted his frustration with Naqvi was limited to the PCB chief's sudden U-turn on the boycott stance against India in the T20 World Cup. 'I am angry with him as he took a stand but did not stick with it. The entire community was with him,' Akhtar said.