PCB displeased over Shoaib Akhtar’s remarks against board

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed disappointment with former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s remarks made against its legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi.

Shoaib Akhtar, recently on his Youtube Channel lashed out at the PCB after Umar Akmal was banned for three years from all forms of cricket over not informing the PCB about the match-fixing offer.

Rizvi has sent a defamation notice of Rs100 million to the former cricketer over his disrespectful remarks. He has demanded an immediate apology from Akhtar. The former fast pacer had termed the PCB’s legal department incapable and substandard, besides raising questions on the credibility of Rizvi as a lawyer.

He accused Rizvi of taking the benefits of contacts to advance in his career. The PCB in the statement said, “The language used by Shoaib Akhtar was highly inappropriate and disrespectful, and cannot be condoned in any civilized society.”

The statement read, “The PCB’s legal advisor, Taffazul Rizvi, in his own discretion, has initiated defamation and criminal proceedings against Shoaib Akhtar, while the PCB to reserves its rights.”

Earlier this week, Akhtar claimed that cricketer Imran Nazir had more talent than an Indian player Virender Sehwag, but the right-hander fizzled away after a bright start as he did not have the temperament and the brain to be successful at the international level.

“I don’t think Imran Nazir had the brain that Sehwag had. I don’t think Sehwag had the talent that Imran Nazir had. Nazir had more talent, there is no comparison with regards to talent. We tried to contain him a little,” Akhtar was quoted as saying.