Akhtar, Niaz reconcile after Fawad mediates
ISLAMABAD: Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and Pakistan Television (PTV) anchor Dr Nauman Niaz, who had a heated exchange during a live telecast on PTV Sports, prompting the former’s resignation from the channel, have reconciled following Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s mediation.
PTV News tweeted that Chaudhry invited Akhtar and Niaz to his residence and helped the pair setle their differences. Following the setlement of the days-long dispute, Niaz publicly apologised to Akhtar in a video.
“Shoaib Akhtar, I am extremely sorry for whatever happened on screen. It shouldn’t have happened, for the reason that [we] have a 30-year-long friendship and that shouldn’t go down,” Niaz said.
Akhtar, who also featured in the video, replied: “It’s fine. He (Niaz) said it, he said it. He should have said it a long time ago.”
The video ends with Niaz saying, “it’s never too late” and pating Akhtar on the back. Later, Akhtar confirmed his reconciliation with Niaz on Twiter.
“It was an unpleasant incident on national television and it had hurt my sentiments [and] that’s why it took me a while,” he tweeted, referring to his spat with Niaz. Taking a higher moral ground, I am accepting the apology of Dr Nauman Niaz. Lets move on from this,” he added.
Meanwhile, sharing a picture of Shoaib, Niaz and himself, Chaudhry tweeted a couplet about friendship. He said the argument between Niaz and Akhtar was “not that big” as he appeared to hold social media responsible for blowing the row out of proportion. “... social media is a big [thing] now and small maters are turned into big issues. Nevertheless, all is well that ends well,” he added.
The star pacer and Niaz were part of a panel for PTV Sports programme “Game On Hai” on Oct.27 along with guests the likes of West Indies bating legend Sir Vivian Richards, former England captain David Gower, former Pakistan women’s captain Sana Mir and former fast bowler Umar Gul. The panel was discussing the Pakistan-new Zealand T20 World Cup match which Pakistan won by five wickets.
During a discussion on the Pakistan squad, Akhtar had credited the Pakistan Super League’s Lahore Qalandars franchise for discovering Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Niaz took issue with Akhtar’s comments and said: “You are being a litle rude so I don’t want to say this but if you’re being over-smart then you can go. I am saying this on air.”