Akhtar quits PTV cricket show

Walks off show after being ‘insulted’ by anchor

KARACHI:

Social media on Wednesday was abuzz with Shoaib Akhtar and anchor Dr Nauman Niaz names following the former’s quitting from the sports analysis show on the national television in reaction to latter’s ‘obnoxious’ behaviour.

The incident came during the post-match analysis show ‘Game On Hai’ on PTV Sports after Pakistan beat New Zealand on Tuesday night. The sports talk show also hosts West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards, former English cricketer David Gower, former cricketers Sana Mir, Umar Gul, Aaqib Javed, and Rashid Latif.

Akhtar, a legendary former fast bowler, quit and walked off the PTV show after being “insulted” by Niaz.

During a discussion on the Pakistan squad, Akhtar credited the Pakistan Super League’s Lahore Qalandars franchise for discovering Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

Niaz took issue with Akhtar’s comments and 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 I was treated on national television”.

The incident soon became viral on social media with the two individuals becoming top trends on Twitter and videos of the confrontation circulating which prompted Akhtar to issue a video message to “clarify” the situation.

Akhtar, in a tweet, rejected the notion that it was a pre-planned move to boost TRP as he gave context to his own remarks that on face appeared as an admission of it being a stunt.

Terming the entire thing as an “unpleasant” incident, Akhtar said Niaz was being “obnoxious” and had asked him to leave for “no rhyme and reason”.

In reaction to the development, the Pakistan Television Corporation administration took notice of the incident in a live programme with star fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on PTV sports. The PTV administration constituted an inquiry committee for investigation of the event.