Game Off Ho gai: Mawra Hocane, Ali Zafar and stars step in to support cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar

Celebrities have voiced their support for legendary former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar after his altercation on a PTV show with anchor Dr Nauman Niaz Tuesday night. Akhar walked off the show set after being “insulted” by Niaz.

The two were part of a panel for PTV Sports programme Game On Hai along with guests West Indies batting 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 their discussion, Akhtar credited PSL’s Lahore Qalandars franchise for discovering Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Niaz took an issue with Akhtar’s comments and said: “You are being a little 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.” The cricketer then announced his resignation from PTV and said he could not continue with the programme because of “how I was treated on national television” before walking off.

Many came to Akhtar’s defence after the incident, including celebrities such as Mawra Hocane, Ali Zafar and Momina Mustehsan.

Our national heroes have put us on the world map for years…#ShoaibAkhtar is our cricket Legend, I am absolutely appalled at the misbehaviour & disrespect shown to him by a tv anchor, no justification whatsoever!
Sir, we respect you & THANKYOU for your services to Pakistan! 🇵🇰

— MAWRA HOCANE (Hussain) (@MawraHocane) October 28, 2021

We must learn to respect our national heroes & each other generally. We are entitled to our opinions but the same can be expressed politely in a more cultured fashion with the right choice of words to avoid hurting others’ feelings. @shoaib100mph you’re a legend. #shoaibakhter pic.twitter.com/M4oZBXPfC6

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 27, 2021

#ShoaibAkhtar’s service to Pakistan and contributions to international Cricket forever have the utmost UNDISPUTED #respect of every Pakistani and every global fan of cricket. @shoaib100mph is a National Hero.

— Momina Mustehsan (@MominaMustehsan) October 27, 2021

Actor Muneeb Butt also weighed in on the matter, questioning why everyone feels it is necessary to behave like they’re the “prime minister of Pakistan”. “PTV gave Niaz a platform [but] look at his behaviour, attitude and words,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. “Shame on him! Respect our living legends, don’t wait [to do so until] they die!”

Actor Zarnish Khan also spoke against Niaz’s behaviou. “It is the host’s responsibility to treat the guests with respect, maintain the decorum of the program, and follow journalistic ethics,” she said, adding that Niaz should apologise to Akhtar.

Really applaud the grace shown by @shoaib100mph. He handled the insult heaped on him with so much maturity and patience. Anyone else would have probably lost his cool on air but this guy maintained his dignity. Signs of a good upbringing #sheerclass pic.twitter.com/BHQVO7boZW

— Adnan Siddiqui (@adnanactor) October 27, 2021

Arguments happen during TV shows but no host tells their guest to leave. That was no way to address any guest, let alone one of the biggest international stars Pakistan has ever produced. What happened, happened; Dr Noman should have at the very least apologised to @shoaib100mph

— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) October 27, 2021

Actors Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui took to Twitter to speak up as well.

And so did Senator Shibli Faraz.

A nation that does not respect its heroes stops producing heroes @shoaib100mph

— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) October 28, 2021

PTV’s administration took notice and formed a committee to investigate the incident, according to a statement posted on its sports channel’s official Twitter account.