Even though Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has clarified that she is not making any political statement by marrying cricketer Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt has expressed hope that the wedding would help improve ties between India and Pakistan.
“While the decision by Shoaib and Sania is a personal one to get married, but I am sure it will have far-reaching effects and help improve relations between the two countries,” The News quoted Butt, as saying.
“I am sure the marriage will help regulate not only sporting relations but also help the people to come closer to each other and improve government to government level relations,” he added.
Several Pakistani sports personalities, including Imran Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq, have wished the sports couple ‘good luck’ for a happy married life.
However, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief Dilawar Abbas has said that India's tennis sensation Sania Mirza should represent Pakistan in international tennis tournaments after entering into wedlock with cricketer Shoaib Malik.
"It is great news for our tennis community that Sania Mirza is getting married to Shoaib Malik. We welcome her and hope that she would become a Pakistani national and play for us in future.
"She has a great future ahead and we would be delighted if she plays for Pakistan," The News quoted Abbas, as saying.
"Asian women traditionally follow their husbands and that's why I'm hopeful that someday she would be inspired by Shoaib to play for Pakistan," he added.
Sania has already made it clear that she would continue representing India even after her marriage.
Abbas said that even if Sania decides to continue playing for India, he hopes that she would associate herself with Pakistan tennis at some point of time.
"She can encourage our girls to take up tennis, she can inspire them to become world class players. We would hope that Sania would lend a helping hand to women's tennis in Pakistan," he said.
Abbas even suggested that Sania could team up with Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq on the mixed-doubles circuit.
"Both Sania and Aisam are really good doubles players. I believe that their team would not just achieve great results internationally but will also help bridge the gap between India and Pakistan," he said.
However, according to the latest shocking news, the Pakistan High Commission has denied tennis star Sania Mirza a visa for Sialkot, the home town of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik where a reception was to be held after the couple's marriage.
Sania has only got visa for Lahore and Karachi. The duo will will tie the knot on April 11 in Hyderabad while their wedding reception is slated to be held in Dubai on April 15, where the sports couple would be staying after marriage.
But will Sania be the second wife of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik? Yes, if one believes the father of a girl who claims to be Malik’s first wife.
Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui, a businessman here, Wednesday announced his decision to move a court of law to seek divorce from Malik for his daughter Ayesha Siddiqui so that she can re-marry.
Hitting out at Malik, Siddiqui said the Pakistani was an “expert in enticing and entangling girls” and that could be the reason for Sania falling for him.
“He plays games with girls. He is the kind of a man who is not satisfied with one girl. He wants to be with one girl today and another girl tomorrow.
He cheated girls even in Pakistan,” a furious Siddiqui told reporters here, a day after Sania announced that she would marry the former Pakistani captain next month.
“I spoke to (the) Grand Mufti and showed him all the proof including the nikhanama of my daughter’s marriage with Shoaib and he told me that Sania will be his second wife,” Siddiqui said.
“Sania is also like my daughter. We have good relations with her family but unfortunately she decided to marry Shoaib despite knowing what he did to my daughter,” said Siddiqui.
Ayesha’s father claimed that he spoke to advocates who told him that his case is strong.
“I have the evidence to prove the marriage. He himself told the entire world that Hyderabad is his wife’s hometown and Ayesha is the name of his wife. Now he is denying the marriage and hiding his face,” he said.
Siddiqui denied the reported allegation by Malik that he was demanding Rs.18 lakh.
“Divorce for my daughter is the only thing I want from him. He is not giving divorce because this will expose him as a liar,” he said.
He claimed that the Pakistani cricketer visited Hyderabad six to seven times after marrying Ayesha. He recalled that at a Man of the Match presentation ceremony after a practice match between India and Pakistan here in 2005, Malik told Arun Lal that Hyderabad is the hometown of his wife.
“He along with the entire team came to our house,” he said referring to the reception he hosted.
Sania, the top ranking Indian woman tennis player called off her engagement with childhood friend Sohrab two months ago citing “incompatibility”.
Sania had Tuesday said that the controversy involving Malik was not on her mind. “I live in the present and so does he (Malik),” she said.
The Siddiqui family claims that Malik married Ayesha June 3, 2002 through exchange of vows (nikah) over telephone. The Pakistani cricketer has denied this.
While admitting that they were engaged, Malik said he called it off as the two families could not reach an understanding on some issues.
In February 2008, Siddiqui had threatened to sue Malik for denying the marriage with Ayesha.
He also claimed that he has the proof of marriage but did not file the case after Malik’s family accused him of cheating and warned of legal action.
In January 2008, Malik announced that he was calling off the engagement with Ayesha.
