Watch - 'I can question someone's incompetency': Shoaib Akhtar gives scathing statement after PCB's legal advisor sends legal notice

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akthar has given a scathing statement after receiving criminal and defamation suit from Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) long-serving legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi. Akhtar, taking to social media platform Twitter, posted a series of video in which he explained that his statement has been taken out of context and his remark was only on Rizvi and not the entire legal fraternity of Pakistan. 

Akhtar captioned the video thread: “My detailed statement. I have immense respect for the lawyers’ community. In the past, I have supported the lawyers’ movement. In this particular instance, I have talked about one particular lawyer and I stand by my statement about him. I have a right to give an opinion about incompetence.”

Akhtar, in the videos, is seen saying that, under Freedom of Speech, he has the right to criticise someone’s work and if he feels someone is incompetent then no one can send a legal notice to him on the basis of that. The Rawalpindi Express further stated that his remarks were aimed at only one person (Rizvi) and not the legal fraternity of Pakistan while adding he has immense respect for the lawyers who have fought hard for their country. 

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In Rizvi’s legal suit, Akhtar’s previous legal charges were highlighted to which the former speedster said that he was given a clean chit by the judge who was in charge of the case.

In the legal notice sent to Akhtar, Rizvi highlighted legal charges and punishments awarded to the former fast-bowler throughout his career. He also demanded that he retracts his statements, tenders an unconditional apology, pays PKR 100 million in damages and refrains from repeating and making defamatory remarks against the lawyer in the future.

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Akhtar had posted a video following the three-year ban imposed on Umar Akmal for not reporting corrupt approaches but ended up irking the Pakistan Bar Council, which cautioned him to be careful in what he says. The Pakistan Bar Council, in a statement, stated that it was disappointed by the comments made by Akthar towards Rizvi.