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PTV withdraws case against former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar

The state-owned channel asked the national hero to pay damages worth Rs100 million
A video clip which was released on November 13 showed the two parties have resolved their conflicts. Photo: File
A video clip which was released on November 13 showed the two parties have resolved their conflicts. Photo: File

The Pakistan Television (PTV) has withdrawn a case against former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in which the state-owned organisation asked the national hero to pay damages worth Rs100 million and reimburse three months’ salary for violating clauses of their contract, reported Dawn.

Quoting a PTV lawyer, Rana Iqbal's report said the legal expert told a civil court in Lahore that the two parties had reconciled their differences and the state-owned entity did not wish to pursue the case further. Subsequently, the court disposed of the suit.

Earlier this month, the state-owned TV channel had served Akhtar with a recovery notice worth Rs100 million in the wake of his on-air spat with anchor Dr Nauman Niaz on October 25 during a show that prompted the former fast bowler to resign from the channel.

The two were part of a panel for PTV Sports programme “Game On Hai” along with guests such as West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards, former England captain David Gower, former Pakistan women’s captain Sana Mir and former fast bowler Umar Gul.

The on-air spat occurred while discussing the Pakistan-New Zealand T20 World Cup match, which Pakistan won by five wickets.

During the discussion, Akhtar lauded the PSL’s Lahore Qalandars franchise for discovering Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

Reacting to this, Niaz said: “You are being a little rude so I don’t want to say this but if you’re being over-smart then you can go. I am saying this on air.”

Once the show resumed after a break, Akhtar apologised to the guests on the panel and announced his resignation from PTV, saying that he could not continue with the programme because of “how he was treated on national television”.

On November 13, a video clip was released that showed the two parties have resolved their conflicts.

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Shoaib Akhtar

PTV

Nauman Niaz