PTV serves Rs100mn recovery notice to Shoaib Akhtar

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has served a Rs100mn recovery notice to former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, saying that his resignation on-air had cost the show huge financial losses and was a violation of his act.

Reacting to the notice, the Rawalpindi Express said he would “fight this legal battle”, expressing disappointment over the state-run channel’s decision.

“As per clause 22, both sides shall have right to terminate his agreement by serving three months’ written notice or payment in lieu thereof. Whereas, Shoaib Akhtar resigned on air on October 26 which has resulted into huge financial losses to PTV,” reads the notice.

“You [Akhtar] also left Dubai during T20 World Cup transmission without any prior information to PTVC management. Besides, appearance on an Indian TV show along with Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, also caused irreparable losses to PTV.”

The notice said that the former fast bowler had remained absent from the live transmission of the T20 World Cup when it began on October 17, 2021, “whereas you were bound to appear on PTV Sports throughout the World Cup”.

As a whole, you made only two appearances so far (out of thirty-six) during the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, again causing huge financial losses to the PTVC.”

The PTV also accused Akhtar of breaching clause 5 of the contract by appearing on two shows of a private TV channel, leaving the state-run broadcaster and it sponsors “embarrassed.”

It also claimed that Akhtar kept pushing for raising his monthly remuneration to Rs1.8 million, with an additional amount of Rs25 million against the agreed amount of “Rs1,111,000”.