ISLAMABAD – Pakistani TV host and sports journalist Dr. Nauman Niaz served legal notice to former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar over allegedly defamatory remarks made in a recent appearance on show Tumasha, aired on May 25, 2025.
The remarks were made during segment titled The Dug Out, sparked immediate backlash when Pindi Express casually claimed on-air that “Yeh Dr Nauman Diaz hamarey bag uthata tha, humne issey bag uthaney keliye rakha hua tha” (“Dr Nauman Niaz used to carry our bags; we had kept him for that purpose”).
Dr. Niaz, responded firmly, as his legal team called the statement an assault on memory and dignity. In a legal notice dated May 29, 2025, his legal counsel argued that the comments were “factually incorrect, baseless, unethical, and defamatory,” with the intent to harm Dr. Niaz’s longstanding professional reputation.
For three years using television channels & digital media platforms, a one-sided malicious defamation campaign was continued. Example of many such indiscretions are available.
On Episode 31, aired May 25th, 2025, on Dug Out, streaming on Tamasha, Shoaib Akhtar let fly again. He… pic.twitter.com/x2Clpx6pCe
— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) May 30, 2025
The notice further asserts that Dr. Niaz has held senior and significant positions within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and has authored over 3,500 articles across national and international platforms, including Wisden. It emphasized that Akhtar’s comment reduces decades of professional dedication to a “caricature built on innuendo.”
Demanding a public apology and formal retraction within 14 days, the notice warns of legal action under the Defamation Ordinance 2002 if the matter is not addressed. Dr. Niaz is seeking damages to the tune of Rs. 1 billion, citing severe reputational and financial harm caused by the statement, which has since gone viral across social media platforms.
Akhtar has not yet publicly responded to the notice.
This legal confrontation marks another chapter in a turbulent relationship between the two media personalities, who previously clashed on national television in 2021 during a live broadcast, which led to widespread public and media attention.
This is not first legal tussle between two as Shoaib Akhtar and Nauman Niaz had a heated exchange during a live telecast on PTV Sports, prompting Akhtar’s resignation from the channel and they reconciled by Fawad Chaudhry.
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