Pakistan Television (PTV) reportedly, on Thursday (November 25), withdrew their case against Shoaib Akhtar, for quitting their Sports show live on air.
PTV had asked Shoaib to pay PKR 100 million in damages and reimburse three months' salary for violating clauses of their contract. However, a civil court in Lahore disposed of the case after the PTV denied pursuing the case further, as the two sides had settled their differences.
Notably, Akhtar had resigned from his role as a cricket analyst on live television and walked out of the PTV Sports show "Game On Hai" after an argument with the presenter, Dr. Nauman Niaz, who heads PTV’s sports division, last month during the program.
Akhtar was part of a show where he was discussing Pakistan’s win over New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on October 25 in the UAE.
Apart from the legendary pacer and the presenter, the 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 were also part of the discussion.
Read Also: India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2021 match becomes the most-watched T20I of all time
PTV also launched an inquiry into the spat and took Dr. Niaz and Akhtar off-air until completion of the probe and sent a notice to the former pacer by saying his "conduct towards official requirements according to the binding clauses of the referred agreement has not only been observed as casual but a total violation of the agreement."
Akhtar had violated the terms of the agreement by not submitting a written notice three months prior and caused "huge financial losses to PTV."
Later, Niaz issued an "unconditional apology" for his conduct, while Shoaib had vowed to continue the legal fight, but now the matter is solved.
It is being said that Akhtar and Niaz reconciled on November 13 after Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry intervened in the matter. The minister had invited both Akhtar and Niaz to his residence and helped them settle their differences.
(With DAWN Inputs)
