‘It is my fault’: Dr Nauman Niaz apologises to Shoaib Akhtar

Pakistanm Televison (PTV) Sports anchor Dr Nauman Niaz has finally apologised to Shoaib Akhtar for his verbal spat during a live TV show.

There was a strong backlash from Pakistani cricket fans, after Nauman Niaz had told Akhtar to leave the show during a live transmission in the presence of cricket veterans such as Sir Vivian Richards and David Gower. People demanded that Nauman be fired for insulting a cricket legend like this.

The panel was discussing the Pakistan-New Zealand T20 World Cup match, which Pakistan won by five wickets.

In a statement on a YouTube channel on Thursday, the TV host said that the reaction to what he did on air was justified and he said, “I apologised thousands of times over my conduct.”

“Whatever the reason, I had no right to do all this on-air, it was my fault. Shoaib Akhtar is a star and I love his cricket,” Niaz continued to take responsibility for his actions.

Nauman added: “Shoaib was contracted with us on the basis of exclusivity. People thought I was just a host but they don’t know that I also sign salaries of all employees, including Shoaib. It was an overlapping [on my part] and again there is no justification for it.”

Niaz also shared how his father was also upset about his behaviour. Akhtar also stated on a programme on Geo News, ‘ Jashn-e-Cricket’ that he has forgiven Dr Niaz for the benefit of the country and state institutions.

میں نے ڈاکٹر نعمان کو معاف کردیا۔۔ اس طرح استعفی اس لیے دیا کہ آئندہ کسی اسٹار کو ایسا نہ سننا پڑے ۔۔ شعیب اختر pic.twitter.com/iw9QdjRPby

— Shahzad Iqbal (@ShahzadIqbalGEO) November 5, 2021

Earlier, PTV also launched an inquiry into the spat and took Dr Niaz and Akhtar off-air until completion of the probe. While reacting to the news, Akhtar said that he resigned on-air.