‘Shoaib wants Rs 35 m for coverage’, but no buyers

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik reportedly demanded a whopping Rs 35 million from TV channels for coverage rights to his reception in his hometown Sialkot on Sunday and the April 27 ‘walima’ in Lahore.

Shoaib had asked his private security guards to keep the media away from both ceremonies as none of the TV news channels agreed to cough up the huge amount demanded by him, Dunya news channel reported.

The channel claimed it got an invitation card for the ‘walima’ to be hosted by Shoaib in Lahore’s Pearl Continental Hotel by paying Rs 10,000 to a relative of the cricketer.

In Lahore, Pearl Continental Hotel management has asked journalists to leave the premises. Dozens of reporters, especially those from TV news channels, have been thronging the hotel since the couple arrived there two days ago. “The hotel administration took the step on behalf of Shoaib,” claimed journalist Hina Farooq.

Shaoib has already requested the government of Punjab province to provide the couple and his guests from India “foolproof” security. Shoaib and his brother-in-law Imran Zafar criticised the media after Sania and her mother Nasima Mirza were jostled and pushed by an unruly crowd after reaching the Pearl Continental, an incident that “brought tears to Sania’s eyes”. “Please spare us,” both Shoaib and Zafar requested the media.

“For God’s sake, leave us alone. You are trying to fix cameras in our rooms,” an angry Zafar shouted at the media.

Before leaving for Sialkot, Shoaib, Sania and her parents and relatives visited the shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajvary Data Ganj Bakhsh and offered prayers.