Malik says alleged marriage never happened

Some school of thought of the Islamic Shariah laws recognise the exchange of marriage vows over the telephone.

Malik said he just wanted to concentrate on his cricket career.

"I will not speak on this issue any more. After they tried to dupe us we decided to keep quiet about it because of the girl whose photograph they showed me.

"But now they are trying to exploit my standing as an international cricketer," Malik added.

The relationship between Malik and Ayesha was reported widely in the Indian and Pakistani press over the last few years because of the stormy political ties between the two countries.

A Pakistani cricketer falling in love with an Indian girl made headline news.

The girl's father had also hosted a big reception for the Pakistan team at his residence in Hyderabad when they toured in 2005 but the girl was said to be in United States then with her grandmother.

(Editing by Ossian Shine)