Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar walked out of a TV programme and resigned from his job as a cricket analyst after being told to leave the set by the host of the show at state-owned PTV while analysing Pakistan’s victory over New Zealand at the T20 World Cup.
Akhtar said he had been treated badly and insulted on air by the host in the post-match show. Discussing the match on PTV Sports’ ‘Game on Hai’, Akhtar credited the Pakistan Super League’s Lahore Qalandars team for discovering Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Host Nauman Niaz took issue with Akhtar’s comments and said: “You’re being a little rude and I don’t want to say this, but if you’re being over smart, you can go. I am saying this on air.”
Akhtar, who was on the show alongside former players David Gower and Viv Richards, said he could not continue.
“A lot of apologies guys, a lot of apologies,” Akhtar said before storming off the set. “I am resigning from PTV. The way I have been treated on national TV, I don’t think I should be sitting here right now.”
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.
