Pakistani Actor Veena Malik a Diehard fan of cricket?

Pakistani Actor Veena Malik a Diehard fan of cricket?: Pakistani artiste Veena Malik, who became a household name in India following her stint on reality TV show Bigg Boss, will now appear in two more shows on the Indian television.

"I have been a diehard cricket fan and follow the game religiously. I have been offered several projects but this is cricket season. I am taking my passion for the game into account, which is why I have decided to do the show. I hope that my knowledge about the game and its players will attract my fans both in India and Pakistan," The Express Tribune quoted Veena Malik, who is currently in India on a three-month visa, as saying.

In her first 'crick-o-tainment' show that will hit the small screen on February 19, Malik will serve as the host with two panellists- Ketan Sharma and former Indian cricketer and national coach Anshuman Gaekwad.

While Sharma and Gaekwad will highlight the technicalities of the game, Veena Malik, who has reportedly been paid 10 million rupees for this show, will bring spice and interest to the more colourful aspects of the players.

"This show will be a mixture of cricket and entertainment. I will also discuss famous love affairs of various cricketers," said Malik.

When asked which team she would support for the World Cup 2011 campaign, Malik replied: "Of course I will support the Pakistani team in its matches. But I also have sympathies for the Indian team."

Apart from this, she will also participate in a programme titled "Bigg Toss," in which 14 contestants will all live in a villa, where they will be divided into two teams and choose the players of their choice.

Based on the performance of their chosen players, the teams will be given marks, and the team whose players perform better will win the show.

"The participants will also discuss their favourite players but according to the show's format, the participants can only choose Indian cricketers," said Malik, explaining the dynamics of the show.

Other participants of this show include Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh's father Yograj Singh Bundhel and Bollywood starlet Rakhi Sawant.

Veena Malik: Nothing immoral in Big Boss House

Veena Malik: Nothing immoral in Big Boss House: Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who was an inmate in season four of Indian TV reality show “Big Boss”, has said there was nothing immoral about her relationship with Bollywood actor Ashmit Patel or any other member of the house.”All criticism of my action is baseless, because it is being hurled without knowing the facts,” Veena said in an interview with the Express TV Friday night.

“I belong to the entertainment industry and have not done anything that I have not done before,” she said.

The actress said she was not representing Pakistan on the show but only the entertainment industry.

“I know my limits. I did not wear any revealing clothes or kissed Ashmit or any co-star in the show,” she said. “I was there to promote love and a spirit of friendship and have no regrets in doing so.”

Responding to a question about her physical intimacy with Ashmit Patel during the show, Veena denied having any such contact.

“I was as close to Ashmit as any other inmate of the house,” she said.

“I performed namaz in the Big Boss house and even Ashmit prayed with me,” she revealed, and also produced a video to prove her point.

Meanwhile, Ashmit Patel, speaking on the phone from Mumbai during the interview, said that he had prayed because he found the movements in namaz “very much like yoga”.

“I don’t believe in religion as such but have respect for all religions and keep collecting information about them,” he said, adding that he found peace in performing namaz.

An Islamic cleric, Mufti Abdul Baqi, who also participated in the interview, said: “Veena had shamed all Pakistanis and Muslims with her immoral acts during the show.”

“I want to tell her that she has not done justice to her talents by doing something which she can’t watch while sitting with her brother or son in future,” he said, asking her to mend her ways.

Veena burst into tears during the interview and said she confronted hostility from other participants like Shweta and Manoj, but the media never supported her.

“It is to my credit that I spent 84 days in the house against all odds,” she argued.

Interview host Kamran Shahid concluded the show by saying that most of the Pakistani people think Veena should not have committed such acts, particularly because of the high sensitivity towards the neighbouring country.

Veena Malik had earlier courted controversy because of her alleged relationship with embattled fast bowler Mohammad Asif.