Shoaib Akhtar PTV controversy: Shoaib Akhtar, Nauman Niaz end enmity – Pakistan’s former star pacer Shoaib Akhtar has reached a truce with PTV Sports anchor Dr Nauman Niaz. After PTV filed a defamation lawsuit worth millions against Akhtar, a Pakistan minister played the role of a mediator and ended the enmity.
Akhtar took it to his social media handle and shared the news that they have reached an agreement and are ready to move on. It was possible after Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry invited both to his residence to settle the differences.
Niaz apologised to Akhtar and admitted that what transpired on the live show should not have occurred and added that because of that incident the 30-year-old friendship should not end.
Shoaib Akhtar PTV controversy: Shoaib Akhtar & Nauman Niaz end enmity after Pakistan minister intervenes
“It was an unpleasant incident on National Television and it had hurt my sentiments that’s why it took me a while. Taking a higher moral ground, I am accepting the apology of Dr Nauman Niaz. Let’s move on from this,” Akhtar posted.
Apologising to Akhtar, Dr Niaz admitted that what had transpired on the live show should not have occurred. He said that their 30-year-old friendship should not end. Later, Pak Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted all was well.
“Friends come out in millions There are as few as there are … It wasn’t so much talk about it but what is it that social media is so big now that even small things get bigger, anyway All is well that ends well,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
Shoaib Akhtar PTV controversy: Shoaib Akhtar & Nauman Niaz end enmity after Pakistan minister intervenes
Shoaib Akhtar PTV controversy: Shoaib Akhtar & Nauman Niaz end enmity after Pakistan minister intervenes
Shoaib Akhtar PTV controversy: What exactly happened?
It may be recalled that Akhtar and PTV Sports host Dr Nauman Niaz had an on-air spat during a live show on October 26 during a T20 World Cup show. After that, Niaz had bluntly asked the Rawalpindi Express to leave.
Akhtar, as well as many of his fans and supporters, described the incident as humiliating as this was done in front of other guests, including Vivian Richards and David Gower.
Akhtar had tried to settle the matter but when it did not work out, he not only walked out of the show but also announced resigning from the PTV. Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had formed a committee headed by the managing director of the PTV to investigate the matter. The committee recently presented a preliminary report on the matter to the minister.
Shoaib Akhtar PTV controversy: Shoaib Akhtar & Nauman Niaz end enmity after Pakistan minister intervenes
“Utterly Disappointed,” Shoaib wrote on Twitter. “After miserably failing to safeguard my respect and 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.”