Pakistan's Malik to marry India's Mirza
Source: Agencies |
March 31, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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FORMER Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik will marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, a union of two of South Asia's best known sports personalities.
"The news of me marrying to Sania is true," Malik posted on Twitter yesterday. "Inshallah (God willing) will get married in April."
Malik, who was in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to play in the Bangladesh cricket league, told private television channels in Pakistan that he was happy to be marrying Mirza.
"Our families are very happy and we both are also happy," Malik told Geo News. "Parents will decide the dates (of the wedding), it's happening somewhere next month."
The 23-year-old Mirza issued a statement yesterday confirming she and 28-year-old Malik planned to marry, but asking for privacy.
"My wedding Inshallah is going to be the biggest day of my life," she said. "I have been in the media glare for too long and would appreciate a little privacy at this very personal moment in my life."
Her father, Imran Mirza, said Sania and Malik will be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and continue to represent their countries in their respective sports. "This is a unique case where husband and wife will represent their respective countries in sport," he said in a statement issued in Hyderabad, India, where the family lives.
Malik was at the center of a marriage controversy five years ago when he reportedly broke an engagement with Ayesha Siddiqui, who was from Mirza's hometown in India. The two had reportedly developed a friendship on the internet and Siddiqui's father had even threatened to take Malik to court.
Mirza ended a previous engagement to childhood friend Sohrab Mirza in January, citing incompatibility.
Newspapers reported that Malik first met Mirza at Hobart, Australia, in January, when Pakistan was on tour and Mirza was in the city for a tournament. "It was after this meeting that Mirza's engagement with her childhood friend broke," the Jang newspaper reported.
Geo Television reported that Mirza, her parents and sister, received visas at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi yesterday and were expected to travel to Pakistan next month.
The Dawn newspaper quoted family sources of Malik as saying that a reception has been planned at Lahore in mid-April.
Malik, who has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year for infighting during a disastrous tour of Australia this year, said he supported Mirza playing on the WTA Tour.
"I fully understand what it takes to be an international sportsperson and I will support Sania in her career as long as she wishes to play," he said.
Mirza, a two-time grand slam mixed doubles champion, became the first Indian woman to crack the world top 40 rankings, reaching a career high of No. 27 in August 2007.
"The news of me marrying to Sania is true," Malik posted on Twitter yesterday. "Inshallah (God willing) will get married in April."
Malik, who was in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to play in the Bangladesh cricket league, told private television channels in Pakistan that he was happy to be marrying Mirza.
"Our families are very happy and we both are also happy," Malik told Geo News. "Parents will decide the dates (of the wedding), it's happening somewhere next month."
The 23-year-old Mirza issued a statement yesterday confirming she and 28-year-old Malik planned to marry, but asking for privacy.
"My wedding Inshallah is going to be the biggest day of my life," she said. "I have been in the media glare for too long and would appreciate a little privacy at this very personal moment in my life."
Her father, Imran Mirza, said Sania and Malik will be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and continue to represent their countries in their respective sports. "This is a unique case where husband and wife will represent their respective countries in sport," he said in a statement issued in Hyderabad, India, where the family lives.
Malik was at the center of a marriage controversy five years ago when he reportedly broke an engagement with Ayesha Siddiqui, who was from Mirza's hometown in India. The two had reportedly developed a friendship on the internet and Siddiqui's father had even threatened to take Malik to court.
Mirza ended a previous engagement to childhood friend Sohrab Mirza in January, citing incompatibility.
Newspapers reported that Malik first met Mirza at Hobart, Australia, in January, when Pakistan was on tour and Mirza was in the city for a tournament. "It was after this meeting that Mirza's engagement with her childhood friend broke," the Jang newspaper reported.
Geo Television reported that Mirza, her parents and sister, received visas at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi yesterday and were expected to travel to Pakistan next month.
The Dawn newspaper quoted family sources of Malik as saying that a reception has been planned at Lahore in mid-April.
Malik, who has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year for infighting during a disastrous tour of Australia this year, said he supported Mirza playing on the WTA Tour.
"I fully understand what it takes to be an international sportsperson and I will support Sania in her career as long as she wishes to play," he said.
Mirza, a two-time grand slam mixed doubles champion, became the first Indian woman to crack the world top 40 rankings, reaching a career high of No. 27 in August 2007.
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