Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar walked off the set of a panel show in Pakistan, after an argument with the host.
Akhtar walked off during a post-match show for the T20 World Cup match between New Zealand and Pakistan, called ‘Game On Hai’.
After an argument, host Nauman Niaz read Akhtar the riot act.
“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.”
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The Rawalpindi Express didn’t take kindly to this.
“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.”
Akhtar took to social media to clarify his opinion of the situation.
“I realised that there were superstars sitting with us, and I was worried about my image. I requested Niaz to end the matter as the clip can go viral, and I demanded an apology, but he didn’t,” Akhtar said.
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“When he didn’t, I had enough and I decided to walk off as I just wanted an end to it. Being a national star, I felt bad as foreigners were amid us, and I didn’t want them to think this is how a national star is treated by his countrymen.”
Fellow Test greats David Gower and Viv Richard were also on the panel.
The 46-year-old pace bowler called Niaz “abnoxious (sic) and rude” during a series of tweets after the incident.
https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1453119968028073993https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1453120398514659332
Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of opinion online took Akhtar’s side, who retweeted a string of support messages from actors, politicians and other public figures.
Pakistan won the match against New Zealand, and remain one of the favourites to take home the T20 World Cup.
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