Shoaib Akhtar served Rs 100 mn defamation notice by PTV, vows legal fight

Islamabad, Nov 8 (Agency) Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar is in soup after Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) sent him a recovery notice asking him to pay Rs 100 million in damages and reimburse three months’ salary for violating clauses of their contract. The notice, which has been seen by UNI, said that Shoaib had agreed to “remain associated exclusively with PTV Sports and not appear or engage with any other television network within the Pakistan territory”. The former Pakistan fast bowler had violated the contract by appearing on shows hosted by ARY News and Geo News, after making himself unavailable for PTV citing health issues, it stated. Moreover, Shoaib continued to demand enhancement in his monthly income up to Rs 1.8 million, it added. The notice also alleged that Shoaib had not submitted a written notice three months prior before announcing his resignation on air and walked off the show after indulging in a spat with the then PTV host Dr Nauman Niaz.

This conduct of Shoaib, the notice mentioned, had caused huge financial losses to PTV. PTV also alleged that the ex-pacer also appeared on a T20 World Cup show with former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh which caused irreparable losses to it without informing the management. The notice alleged, out of 36 required appearances, Shoaib made two appearances on PTV’s World Cup transmission “Game On Hai” that started on October 17. Reacting to the slapping of Rs 100 million on him, Shoaib said he would fight the case in the court of law by his lawyer Salman Khan Niazi. In a tweet on Sunday night, Shaib said he was “utterly disappointed” by the notice.