The long-standing tension between former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and senior sports journalist Dr. Nauman Niaz has once again intensified.

 

Dr. Niaz has issued a legal notice to Akhtar following a controversial remark made by the former cricketer during Episode 31 of The Dug Out, a cricket show streamed on Tamasha on May 25, 2025.

 

While speaking on the show, Shoaib said, “Yeh Dr. Nauman Niaz hamarey bag uthata tha, humney issey bag uthaney ke liye rakha hua tha,” suggesting that Niaz once worked as someone who carried his bags. Dr Niaz’s legal team has deemed this comment false, insulting, and damaging to his reputation.

 

 

The legal notice, sent on May 29 by lawyer Qazi Umair Ali, says Shoaib’s statements have repeatedly hurt Dr Niaz’s image and caused emotional and professional damage. It also points out Dr Niaz’s long service in sports journalism, his high-level roles in the Pakistan Cricket Board, and his Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award.

 

The notice warns that further legal action may be taken under Pakistan’s Defamation Ordinance 2002 if Shoaib does not issue a public apology or retract his statement.

 

This isn’t the first time the two have clashed. In 2021, their on-air argument made headlines when Shoaib Akhtar walked off a live PTV Sports show. Although the matter appeared resolved at the time, tensions have persisted.