'Was offered lead role in Gangster movie' - Shoaib Akhtar on his acting ambitions

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is known for keeping his fans entertained on and off the pitch. The Rawalpindi Express is one of the fiercest fast bowlers of all time to have graced the Cricket ground; off the pitch, he is an enjoyable character. Much like any other sportsman, he also had his acting ambitions. The ex-Pakistan pacer revealed that he was approached to play the lead role in Mahesh Bhatt's crime-drama Bollywood movie 'Gangster' (2005).

Talking of his association with the big screen, Akhtar's biography by the title 'Rawalpindi Express: Racing against the odds' was revealed last year. However, there has not been any news regarding the movie's production. On the other hand, Akhtar announced his disassociation from the film through a tweet alleging "disagreements and contractual infractions."

Shoaib Akhtar's own TV Show aired on Friday, February 17

As mentioned earlier, Akhtar has not limited himself to cricket. He was also seen in a recent episode on Indian influencer and content creator Tanmay Bhatt's YouTube channel, introducing the larger audience to the former Pakistani speedster's funnier side.

He has been featured in several videos on his own YouTube channel, where he would often critique Pakistan and other teams' performances. Akhtar seems to be exploring his humourous side more with this latest endeavour – a TV show aired on February 17. The show is titled 'The Shoaib Akhtar Show', and the leaked clips suggest it's a light-hearted talk show with varying guests being called on each episode. As the sort of person who doesn't like to mince his words, fans expect Akhtar's show to be an instant hit on the TV screen.

A particular clip from the show with Pakistani Model Nida Yasir has caught the attention of the masses for Akhtar's clever wordplay. Yasir, attending the show as a guest, is asked, 'In which year did Pakistan win the 1992 World Cup?' to which she appears clueless, immediately turning to her co-guest for help. The other guest, in return, whispers the year '1992'. The Rawalpindi Express, this time, immediately changes the question to 'In which year did Pakistan win the 2009 World Cup?'