‘Bigg Toss’

There’s no stopping Veena Malik as she returns to India to host a cricket show through the course of the World Cup.

LAHORE: After making headlines in the industry and creating ripples with heated debates on national television, Pakistani actor Veena Malik is back with a bang. The bold beauty has a keen interest in cricket off late and will now appear on not one, but  two television shows on the cricket World Cup for Indian television.

In a show that will hit the small screen on February 19, Malik will serve as host with panelists Ketan Sharma and former Indian cricketer and national coach Anshuman Gaekwad. The programme will fall into a ‘crick-o-tainment’ slot and will discuss cricket and cricketers in a humorous way. It is likely that Bollywood celebrities will come on the show before and during important cricket matches including Salman Khan (the host of “Bigg Boss” Season 4).

While Sharma and Gaekwad will highlight the technicalities of the game, Veena Malik will bring spice and interest to the more colourful aspects of the cricketers.

The two panelists will serve on rotation while Malik will remain on the show throughout the World Cup.

“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,” said Veena Malik, who is currently in India.

A source disclosed that Malik has been given Rs10 million for hosting the show. Talking about her show she said, “This show will be a mixture of cricket and entertainment. I will also discuss famous love affairs of various cricketers,” said Malik.

When asked what team she would support Malik replied, “Of course I will support the Pakistani team in its matches. But I also have sympathies for the Indian team,”she added.  When asked about  the recent cricket debacle that has wrapped three Pakistani cricketers in a legal mess Malik says, “Salman Butt, Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif have disappointed cricket fans in Pakistan. I believe that if Asif has done something wrong then he should not only be banned, he ought to be jailed.”

Other than hosting a cricket show, She will also participate in a programme titled “Bigg Toss.” Some 14 contestants will all live in a villa, the contestants 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 — the team whose players perform well, will win the show.

The participants of the show include Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s father Yograj Singh Bundhel, Rakhi Sawant, radio Jockey Simran, Indian Punjabi pop singer Ashok Masti, model and TV anchor Divya Jaitley, former Delhi University student and union leader Amrita Dhawan, singer and guitarist Shanker Sawhney, Zoobi Doobi singer Zahid Nigam, Congress leader Mukesh Sharma, Haryana wrestler Sangram Singh, hairstylist Swlvie and MTV contestants Sakshi Bhayala and Shiva Devotee.

“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.

While talking about her stay in India, Veena Malik said that she has a three-month visa for India and will most probably spend all this time in India.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2011.