Asim Munir Upset With Mohsin Naqvi? T20 WC Match Loss To India Becomes Flashpoint In Pakistan

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 13:35 IST

The row stems not only from Pakistan’s loss to India but also from remarks Naqvi made during press conference ahead of the high-voltage encounter, where he dragged Munir's name.

Tensions are reportedly simmering within Pakistan’s power corridors after the country’s cricket defeat to India in the T20 World Match on February 15 triggered unease at the highest levels of the state. What began as a sporting setback has, according to sources, evolved into a sensitive civil-military moment involving Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and Pakistan’s Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The controversy stems not only from Pakistan’s loss to India — described by insiders as a humiliating batting collapse under pressure — but also from remarks Naqvi made during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) press conference ahead of the high-voltage encounter. Asked about alleged ICC “threats" and Pakistan’s stance regarding the India fixture, Naqvi had struck a defiant tone. In doing so, he invoked Munir directly, declaring that neither he nor the Government of Pakistan was intimidated — and adding that “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir never gets afraid."

The reference, made without prior military clearance, has reportedly not gone down well in Rawalpindi. Sources close to the establishment suggest that Munir was displeased at being drawn into what should have remained a cricketing and administrative matter. In Pakistan’s political structure — where the military wields considerable influence over civilian affairs — the unauthorised use of the army chief’s name in a politically charged sporting context is being viewed as overreach.

The defeat to India further intensified matters. According to sources, the army leadership viewed the result as more than just a sporting disappointment. For many in Pakistan’s establishment, cricket against India is intertwined with national prestige and geopolitical rivalry. The perception that the team was ill-prepared — combined with rhetoric that risked escalating tensions — has reportedly fueled frustration.

Sources indicate that Munir conveyed his concerns to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary. The message is said to have highlighted what the army chief considers mishandling within the PCB, ranging from team preparation issues to unnecessarily combative public statements.

Speculation is now swirling in Islamabad about Naqvi’s future. Some government insiders do not rule out the possibility that Sharif could consider changes at the PCB to ease tensions and signal responsiveness to military concerns. However, no official statement has been issued confirming any move.

Meanwhile, former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has also lashed out at Naqvi. He labelled Naqvi as “incompetent" and “jaahil" (ignorant) on live TV in his post-match remarks. “Now one guy who does not know anything has become the Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman. How will the team run now? You’ve made him a superstar — he can’t win a single match… The biggest crime in the world is to give a big job to an incompetent and ignorant person," Akhtar said.

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