Shaheer Ahmed
A movie on the renowned bowler Shoaib Akhtar called Rawalpindi Express is no longer in the works. The former cricketer announced on Twitter on Saturday that he has formally cancelled the rights to his life’s tale and separated himself from the “dream project.”
He cited “failure to resolve disagreements” and “constant contractual violations” as reasons for his sudden change of heart. “Very sadly, I would like to inform all of you that after careful consideration of months, I have decided to disassociate myself from the film Rawalpindi Express and its makers by terminating the agreement through my management and legal team,” he shared in a statement on social media.
He stated that despite his best efforts to remain committed, the project simply didn’t go as planned. “Definitely, it was a dream project and I tried a lot to prevent [this] and stay in the boat but unfortunately, things were not going well,” added Shoaib. “Failure to resolve disagreements amicably and constant contractual violations finally resulted in us to cut ties with them,” he continued.
Shoaib Akhtar said he has legally left the project and will take action if the filmmakers go ahead without his approval. “I have left the project after complying [with] all legal protocols of revoking the rights to the story of my life. Severe legal action will be taken if the makers continue to make biography film and use my name or life story events in any way,”
Important announcement. pic.twitter.com/P7zTnTK1C0
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 21, 2023
Rawalpindi Express was going to be the first film based on a Pakistani cricketer. Muhammad Faraz Qaiser, the film’s director, described it as a dream come true since he had finally put an idea that he had in 2016 into motion.
