Shoaib Akhtar denies having feelings for Bollywood actor Sonali Bendre

Indian media has been reporting that the Pakistani cricketer is obsessed with her

It looks like Shoaib Akhtar has gotten clean bowled by Indian media agencies, who are claiming that the ace Pakistani cricketer has a thing or two for Bollywood beauty Sonali Bendre. In fact, some publications have gone on to allege that Shoaib feels about Sonali as strongly Shah Rukh Khan's character Rahul did for Juhi Chawla's Kiran in their 1993 super hit horror thriller Darr.

No, we're not making this up. It all began on June 13 when International Business Times (IBT) published a story about Shoaib and his fondness for Sonali. According to the report, the fast bowler - who was given the title of 'Rawalpindi Express' by fans for his prowess with the ball - has been obsessed with the starlet for quite some time. "Shoaib Akhtar has been a dreaded bowler all over the world but this man had a weak spot for Sonali Bendre," read one of the headlines carried by Indian media.

Many a publication even claimed that Shoaib has been carrying a photo of Sonali in his wallet and that he wants to kidnap and marry the Kal Ho Naa Ho star.



All of this is, as expected, sans any verification from either party. Sonali has maintained her silence on the matter and Shoaib, who is quite active on social media since his retirement from cricket and also runs a YouTube channel now, only decided to clear the air when things started to get out of hand.

Taking to YouTube this week, the sportsman posted a video wherein he called all such reports "baseless" rumours. "Once and for all, I am saying to you Sonali Bendre aur mera aisa kuch bhi nahin tha. Kuch bhi nahin! [Sonali and I never had anything going on. Nothing at all!]" Shoaib stated. "Please stop this speculation for once and for all. I am requesting you all!"

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ SONALI BENDRE

He went on to reveal that he has never even met Sonali, let alone being obsessed with her. "She is a beautiful lady but I was not her fan. I have only seen her in one or two movies. But I have become her fan now, seeing the way she has been fighting with cancer recently."

Perhaps all the hullabaloo is due to a now-deleted interview of Shoaib's from back in the day wherein, Indian media claims, he had praised Sonali and claimed he had seen her on the sets of her 1996 film English Babu Desi Mem.

The former pacer retired from cricket in 2011 and now serves as a commentator and analyst for the sport who aims to bring a positive change to the cricketing system in Pakistan. Sonali, on the other hand, recently returned to India after being treated for high-grade cancer in New York.

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