Shoaib Akhtar, the legendary fast bowler, has issued an explosive statement following the announcement by Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) that the Pakistani state-owned network is pursuing legal action against the former cricketer and full-time cricket guru. In the aftermath of a heated exchange with the host of the cricket talk show during the ongoing ICC World T20 2021, Akhtar chose to resign from his television punditry job on-air.
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On Sunday, Akhtar disclosed on Twitter that the media organisation had issued a recovery notice to the fast bowling legend. Akhtar has stated that he will fight the Pakistani state-owned television in court. The former Pakistani fast bowler also revealed that his lawyer, Salman K Niazi, will take the case ahead 'according to the law.'
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"Utterly Disappointed. After miserably failing to safeguard my respect & repute while i was working for PTV, they have now sent me a Recovery Notice. I am a fighter & will not give up & fight this legal battle. My lawyer @SalmanKNiazi1 will take this forward according to law," Akhtar said in his tweet.
The former cricketer's statement comes after the Pakistan Television Corporation allegedly served him with a Rs 100 million defamation notice.
PTV has alleged that Akhtar's choice to leave his on-air punditry post has resulted in substantial financial losses for the media company, according to several sources. During a debate on PTV Sports' Game on Hai show following Pakistan's exciting triumph over New Zealand in the ICC World T20 2021, Akhtar attributed the Lahore Qalandars franchise with finding Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
"You're being a little rude, and I hate to say it, but if you're being over smart, you can go." Nauman Niaz, the host of a talk programme at the time, had responded to Akhtar's words by declaring, "I am saying this on air." Following a heated argument with the show's host, Akhtar walked off the set. “A lot of apologies guys, a lot of apologies. I am resigning from PTV. The way I have been treated on national TV, I don’t think I should be sitting here right now,” Akhtar had stated.