Islamabad: Veteran sports broadcaster and former PTV Sports anchor Dr Nauman Niaz has served a legal notice to former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, alleging a sustained "malicious defamation campaign" over a period of three years, conducted via television channels and digital media platforms.
In a post on social media platform X, Dr Niaz stated that the campaign against him had been "one-sided" and included repeated personal attacks and "derogatory remarks contrary to reality." He specifically cited Episode 31 of Dug Out, streamed on the Tamasha app on May 25, as a recent example, where Akhtar allegedly made fresh defamatory statements.
"Eventually, the silence could no longer be mistaken for acquiescence," Dr Niaz posted. "On the advice of counsel, a line has now been drawn formally, firmly. A legal notice has been issued to Mr Shoaib Akhtar."
The notice was served on May 29, by Advocate Qazi Umair Ali on behalf of Dr Niaz. The defamation claim centres around remarks made by Akhtar in which he allegedly described Dr Niaz as a kit man who carried players' bags during his tenure with the national team, an assertion Dr Niaz has labelled as false, derogatory, and damaging to his reputation.
The legal notice demands an unconditional public apology and a formal retraction of the remarks made. The notice also sets a deadline of 14 days for compliance, failing which defamation proceedings will be initiated under Pakistan’s Defamation Ordinance 2002, including a claim for Rs 1 billion in damages.
Dr Niaz has emphasised that he has held significant administrative roles within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and has contributed extensively to the field of sports journalism over the years. He contends that Akhtar’s remarks are part of a broader pattern of targeted attacks intended to undermine his professional standing.
This is not the first time the two public figures have clashed. In October 2021, a widely publicised incident during a live broadcast on PTV Sports saw Dr Niaz asking Akhtar to leave the studio mid-show following an on-air disagreement. The episode sparked national debate and led to both figures being taken off-air temporarily pending an inquiry.
The developing row has reignited discussions in Pakistan’s cricketing and media circles about professional decorum, accountability, and the consequences of public defamation.
