Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Shoaib Akhtar quits TV show after being asked to leave

Shoaib Akhtar quits TV show after being asked to leave

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 the ongoing T20 the World Cup on Tuesday (26).


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.

But the other guests on the show including greats like Sir Vivian Richards, David Gower, Rashid Latif, Umar Gul, Aaqib Javed and Pakistan women's team captain Sana Mir were clearly shaken by the incident.

Akhtar's walkout prompted a storm on social media with netizens sympathising with him and demanding an apology from the PTV sports host who is a well-known cricket historian and analyst who heads the PTV sports department.

Clips of the argument between Akhtar and the host which led to the resignation were also shared widely on social media.

Akhtar himself took to Twitter on Wednesday (27) 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.

"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 the former pacer 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 then went for a commercial break.

"You have misbehaved with me and I am telling you you can leave the show now," the host said.

After the break when the transmission resumed, there was more drama when Akhtar said he would like to close the unpleasant incident but demanded an apology from the host, who did not budge and started discussing the match.

A few minutes later, Akhtar turned to his fellow experts on the show and after apologising to them announced he was resigning from PTV sports.

"My apologies for this but I am resigning immediately from PTV sports as I have been insulted and treated badly on live television in front of the nation," he said.

(PTI)

More For You

Scarlett Johansson slams viral AI deepfake: Calls for urgent action against AI misinformation

Scarlett Johansson speaks out against AI deepfake misuse after a viral video falsely depicts her in an anti-Kanye West campaign

Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson slams viral AI deepfake: Calls for urgent action against AI misinformation

Scarlett Johansson has spoken out against the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) after a deepfake video surfaced online, falsely portraying her and other Jewish celebrities condemning Kanye West. The manipulated footage has reignited concerns about AI’s role in misinformation and identity theft.

The video, widely circulated on social media, features AI-generated versions of Johansson, David Schwimmer, Jerry Seinfeld, and other stars wearing T-shirts with a Star of David and a middle finger gesture above the word "Kanye." The clip ends with a call to "Join the Fight Against Antisemitism."

Scarlett Johansson warns against the dangers of AI manipulation, calling for stricter regulations to prevent misinformationGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
munich-attack-reuters

Staff look into a car which drove into a crowd in Munich on February 13, injuring several people. (Photo: Reuters)

Suspected car attack injures 28 in Munich, Afghan man in custody

A 24-YEAR-OLD Afghan asylum seeker was arrested after a suspected car-ramming attack injured at least 28 people in Munich, Germany, on Thursday, police said.

The incident took place near the city centre when a car drove into a demonstration of striking workers from the Verdi trade union.

Keep ReadingShow less
How can you make a garden exactly what you want it to be?

For as long as you do not give up, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to see success in your outdoor space, you will get there

Photo by Lisa Fotios: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-digging-on-soil-using-garden-shovel-1301856/

How can you make a garden exactly what you want it to be?

Are you tired of looking outside in your garden only to hate what you see? We absolutely do not blame you. It must be hard to constantly have this reminder that your home is just not perfect yet, and that’s why you’ve got to get started on making some changes sooner rather than later.

If you’ve put off making changes to your garden this far because it’s a huge task, you’re never going to want to get started, and that’s the main problem here. So, it’s time to suck it up and jump into fixing the issue because it’s certainly not going to fix itself.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India

The Amritsar-Birmingham and Amritsar-London Gatwick routes will each increase from three to four weekly flights, while Ahmedabad-London Gatwick will go from three to five weekly flights.

Air India to increase flights between UK and India from March 30

AIR INDIA will increase flight frequencies on key routes as part of its Northern Summer schedule, effective 30 March 2025.

In the UK, the airline will add three more flights on the Delhi-London Heathrow route, increasing from 21 to 24 weekly flights using a mix of A350-900 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft.

Keep ReadingShow less