Pakistan legends Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar quit India vs South Africa commentary team

New Delhi: Former Pakistan pacers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar have pulled out of the commentary team for the fifth ODI between India and South Africa in Mumbai in the wake of Shiv Sena’s protest against the Pakistan versus India cricket series.

Talks between BCCI President Shashank Manohar and PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan were cancelled in Mumbai on Monday after Sena workers stormed the BCCI headquarters demanding no interaction with Pakistan on or off the cricket field.

Fearing more such protests, Akram and Akhtar have decided to step down from the Star Sports commentary team for the October 25 match.

Akram’s agent Arsalan Haider confirmed that the pair would commentate during the fourth ODI in Chennai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and return to Pakistan on October 23, two days before the Mumbai match.

“Wasim Akram & Shoaib Akhtar will not be commentating in the last ODI between #IndvsSA on account of potential security hazard,” Haider tweeted.