Akhtar responds to Rizvi’s defamation lawsuit

• Rizvi had sent Akhtar a notice after being branded an "inept" person by the fastest bowler ever in a YouTube video.

Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar has responded to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s advisor Tafazzul Rizvi lawsuit by sending a legal notice informing him that the defamation against him was "defective/invalid".

Rizvi had sent Akhtar a notice after being branded an "inept" person by the fastest bowler ever in a YouTube video.

Former fast bowler had levelled a series of allegations in the video, accusing the PCB of providing cover to fixers and Rizvi of profiting by pitting players against the board.

My lawyer @SalmanKNiazi1 has replied to defamation notice of Tafazzul Rizvi

Synopsis:

1) Notice by Mr.Rizvi is defective/invalid.

2) My comments about PCB & Mr. Rizvi are expression of opinion given in public interest to point out shortcomings in PCB with hope for improvement. pic.twitter.com/ZuPkfMYGFK

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) May 12, 2020

The Rawalpindi Express, in his own legal retort sent through his attorney, stated that his analysis, "made in public interest", are a critique on the PCB's shortcomings and meant as "expression of opinion and not assertion of fact".

Akhtar branded Rizvi's notice "legally defective, meritless and misconceived" and demanded that he issue an apology for their attempt to "publicly humiliate, degrade, defame and ridicule" him.