Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar was embroiled in a controversy when he walked out of a TV programme and resigned from his job as cricket analyst after being told to leave the set by the host of the show at state-owned PTV. Akhtar, 46, said he had been treated badly and insulted on air by the host in the post match show following Pakistan’s five wicket win over New Zealand in ongoing T20 the World Cup on Tuesday.
Akhtar, who played 46 Tests and 163 ODIs, got up, took off his microphone and left. Host Nauman Niaz didn’t attempt to call him back and showed no reaction at all and carried on with the show as normal.
But the other guests on the show including greats like Sir Vivian Richards, David Gower, Rashid Latif, Umar Gul, Rashid Latif, Aaqib Javed and Pakistan women’s team captain Sana Mir were clearly shaken by the incident.
Akhtar’s walk out prompted a storm on the social media with majority of the netizens sympathising with him and demanding an apology from the PTV sports host, Niaz, who is a well-known cricket historian and analyst who heads the PTV sports department.
Akhtar himself took to twitter on Wednesday to clarify his position.
“Multiple clips are circulating on social media so I thought I shud clarify. dr noman was abnoxious (sic) and rude wen he asked me to leave the show,” Akhtar tweeted.
“It was embarrassing specially wen u have legends like sir Vivian Richards and David gower sitting on the set with some of my contemporaries and seniors and millions watching.
“I tried to save everyone from embarrassment by saying I was pulling dr nomans leg with this mutual understanding that dr noman will also politely apologise and we will move on with the show, which he refused to do. Then I had no other choice.”
The problem began apparently when Akhtar ignored the line of questioning by the host and decided to talk about pacer Haris Rauf and chose to lavish praise on the Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalanders and its coach Aaqib for discovering Haris and supporting him properly.
“This is the guy who deserves all the credit. It was Lahore Qalanders who gave us Haris Rauf,” Akhtar said as he pointed towards the former Test pacer as Noman tried to interrupt him.
The host, clearly annoyed and irritated with Akhtar trying to undermine him, told Shoaib that he had been misbehaving with him and he would not tolerate that and in such circumstances it was better if he left the show and than went for a commercial break.
“You have misbehaved with me and I am telling you you can leave the show now,” the host said.
