NEW DELHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chair Mohsin Naqvi faced a wave of online criticism after suggesting that India is confronting fuel supply problems, even as Pakistan grapples with its own deepening energy shortfall. The remarks landed while Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 games are being staged behind closed doors, with crowds kept away amid fuel-related constraints and wider security concerns tied to unrest in the Middle East.
Energy crisis backdrop and PSL crowds
Naqvi’s comments came during a media interaction about whether spectators might return to stadiums for the ongoing PSL season. He argued that the decision must be viewed through the lens of broader global conditions, pointing specifically to an “oil crisis.”
As part of his explanation, he said he had spoken with PSL franchise owners, adding that even Karachi Kings had asked about the possibility of allowing fans in. He then indicated he would raise the matter again with Pakistan’s prime minister, while stressing the need to understand what is feasible under prevailing circumstances.
Quoting his statement, Naqvi said, “Today I discussed with PSL team owners and PSL teams. Even Karachi (Kings) have requested, so I will meet the PM and request him again about what is possible, but we need to understand what the scenario is in the world, the oil crisis.”
Naqvi’s comparison of India and Pakistan
He went on to link the push for crowd access to a broader hope for stability, claiming that Pakistan is working towards peace and noting that the prime minister is also pursuing that goal. In the same breath, he contrasted conditions in the two countries by arguing that India is seeing long lines at petrol pumps.
Naqvi added, “We have been working towards peace. We hope to have peace soon. The PM is also working towards that. We have a different stance. There is an oil crisis in India and there are long queues at petrol pumps in India.”
What triggered the backlash
The public reaction was swift, with critics challenging the accuracy of the comparison. They pointed to reports that fuel costs in Pakistan have surged by more than 40%, alongside rising electricity expenses that have already affected everyday routines and sporting events—including the Pakistan Super League.
At the same time, detractors argued that India has not faced comparable widespread shortages, and that fuel prices there have reportedly stayed steady.
Online sparring on social media
Social media users on both sides of the border responded sharply to Naqvi’s comments. One critic wrote: “Mohsin Naqvi cancels PSL crowds citing Pakistan’s fuel crisis — then claims India has long petrol queues while Pakistan doesn’t. The PCB chief just contradicted his own tournament policy in the same breath. That’s not strategy — that’s confusion masquerading as leadership.”
