LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board’s legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi has sent a defamation notice of Rs 100 million to fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for using inappropriate and derogatory language against him in a video while the PCB has also warned Shoaib of strict action for degrading its legal advisor.

Shoaib, who has often been involved in such incidents during the past due to his aggressive style of talking, had criticized Taffazul in his YouTube channel, pointing out the flaws of the PCB’s legal department. He alleged that Taffazul has always been interested in taking high profile cricketers of the country to court to earn a name for himself.

The maverick pacer also criticized the PCB, alleging that it has failed to curb the menace of match-fixing by allowing the tainted players to come back to cricket set up after serving their punishments.

A PCB is press release issued on Wednesday stated: “The PCB is disappointed with Shoaib Akhtar’s poor choice of words while publically commenting about the PCB’s legal department and its legal advisor. The language used by Shoaib Akhtar was highly inappropriate and disrespectful, and cannot be condoned in any civilised society. The PCB’s legal advisor, Mr Taffazul Rizvi, in his own discretion, has initiated defamation and criminal proceedings against Shoaib Akhtar, while the PCB too reserves its rights.”

Maverick pacer makes derogatory remarks in video

Meanwhile, Taffazul in his legal notice has demanded of Shoaib to retract his statements in the same mode and manner in which he made them in the first place and also tender an unconditional apology and admit that he misstated.

“Or pay Rs 10 crore for defaming me and levelling false allegations against me, which will be donated to medical center of Lahore High Court Bar Association,” said Taffazul.

The lawyer also demanded of Shoaib to refrain from repeating and making any further defamatory comments against him in future.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2020