Picture Credit: Twitter
After a week of the on-screen spat involving former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar and Pakistan TV anchor Dr Nauman Niaz, the latter has apologised for his act. He said that the implications to his action are justified and that he “can apologize for not only once but a million times”.
Notably, the anchor had insulted Akhtar by calling him “rude” on-air during a show and the repercussion saw Akhtar, one of the panelists during the show, resigning from his role. The video of the spat had gone viral on social media with many people criticising Niaz’s behaviour. Akhtar, later, clarified that he was expecting Niaz to apologise and when nothing like that came from the side of the anchor he decided to walk away form the show.
Watch Here: Shoaib Akhtar walks off mid-show after PTV host Nauman Niaz asks him to leave
That should not have happened: Nauman Niaz
Niaz said that he would apologise for whatever happened irrespective of who between the two mistook to give rise to such a spat. He added that such incident should not have happened.
“The repercussions of my on-air outburst are totally fair. To err is human, that should not have happened and for that, I can apologize for not only once but a million times. I know I hurt the sentiments of a lot of people and that includes Shoaib Akhtar, who has been a rollicking star… regardless of the fact that it was his mistake or not,” said Niaz in an interaction with Rauf Klasra on YouTube.
In the same interview, Niaz revealed that Akhtar was violating the contract he signed with PTV by appearing on other shows and missing the shows of the Pakistani channel. He also added that Akhtar had asked for a hike in the new contract days before that and it was settled only after a meeting with the channel's managing director.
"These things were building up in my mind. Let me honestly say that a minor abrasion erupted in my cognitive mind that led to the incident which we all saw and it should not have happened," the anchor said.
While offering an unconditional apology for whatever happened, he said, "It was an inexcusable act."