Preity Zinta slammed media outlet on reports of a spat with Virender Sehwag. (Source: PTI)
Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta slammed a popular media outlet on Friday after they wrote an article on a conversation between her and team mentor Virender Sehwag, calling it fake news.
A report by Mumbai Mirror said that the Bollywood actress slammed Sehwag after defeat against Rajasthan Royals. The report even said that an angry Sehwag could quit the franchise. However, Preity took to social media, saying that the conversation between the two has been blown out of proportion. “Mumbai Mirror gets it wrong again because we didn’t do Media net & pay them to write articles cuz that’s the only time they get it right. A conversation between Viru & me has been blown out of proportion & suddenly I’m a Villian ! Wow ! #fakenews,” she wrote on Twitter.
Mumbai Mirror gets it wrong again because we didn’t do Media net & pay them to write articles cuz that’s the only time they get it right. A conversation between Viru & me has been blown out of proportion & suddenly I’m a Villian ! Wow ! #fakenews http://t.co/qGOYhCiVtV
— Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) 11 May 2018
The report said that Preity approached Sehwag even before the players had retired to the change rooms after the match and questioned him about the ‘tactics’ used during the game. “Viru had told the other owners to rein in Preity. He told the owners that he’ll not comment on Preity’s acting chops and she should refrain from talking about his cricketing acumen,” Mumbai Mirror quoted a franchise source.
KXIP also released a statement saying, “This is in response to the media articles that have been published in the last couple of days on the supposed disagreement which was reported after Kings XI’s last game. The stories have led to a lot of speculation and we at Kings XI Punjab would like to clearly state that as part of our management process, (as well as other franchisees) we review our performance on and off the field after each game through both, formal and informal discussions.”
“This is part of our standard operations review process which helps us to analyse our results and allow us to focus on the improvement required after each game, both on and off the field so that we can continue to improve in all aspects. The culture in Kings XI is one that is open and non-hierarchical, and is one which encourages open and frank debate by one and all across all levels with the common goal of continious improvement.”
“It is unfortunate that this open and transparent culture has been misconstrued and highlighted in a negative manner, so as to tarnish and damage our image as well as that of the IPL,” the release added.
KXIP are currently placed third on the points table and look well placed to qualify for the playoffs. They now face Kolkata Knight Riders at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday.