Shoaib Akhtar Demands Apology From Tafazzul Rizvi In Response To Defamation Notice

Shoaib Akhtar was served with a defamation notice by the Cricket Board’s legal counsel Tafazzul Rizvi for his ‘poor choice of words’ while commenting on the board’s decision to ban Umar Akmal for three years. “Let me tell you one thing,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel on Tuesday. “PCB’s legal department is extremely incapable and substandard.” Akhtar had also questioned Rizvi’s credibility as a lawyer.

Shoaib Akhtar called the defamation notice received by the Tafazzul Rizvi as “legally defective, merit-less and misconceived”. Not only that, the Pakistan fast bowling legend also demanded apology from Rizvi for publicly defaming, humiliating, degrading him.

Shoaib Akhtar: Whatever I said was for the betterment off Pakistan cricket

“Whatever I said on my channel was for betterment off Pakistan cricket and to point out to the board where it needed to put things right. Whatever I said about Rizvi was based on my personal interaction with him,” Akhtar said.

“My comments about PCB & Mr. Rizvi are expression of opinion given in public interest to point out shortcomings in PCB with hope for improvement,” he tweeted.

PCB, however, has clarified that Rizvi has filed the defamation notice in his own capacity. He also demanded an apology and Rs. 10 million to be donated to charity. “The language used by Shoaib Akhtar was highly inappropriate and disrespectful, and cannot be condoned in any civilised society,” PCB had said in its statement.

In the legal notice sent to Akhtar, Rizvi had highlighted the following points, according to a report in dawn.com

• retracts his statements
• tenders an unconditional apology
• Pays Rs100 million in damages, which will be donated to Medical Centre of LHC Bar Association
• Refrains from repeating and making further defamatory remarks against the lawyer