‘Happy for Shoaib, sad for India’

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Sania Mirza with husband Shoaib Malik—AFP

India’s other cricketing son-in-law Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka (married to Chennai-based Madhi Mallar) may not have been very successful on Indian soil, but Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik stole the thunder in Tuesday’s first T20 International against the Men in Blue in Bengaluru.

Sadly, tennis star Sania Mirza was not present at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to cheer for husband Shoaib on Tuesday night. “She is in Hyderabad and watched the match on TV,” Sania’s father Imran Mirza told this paper from Bengaluru, where he keenly witnessed the proceedings. “She did not want to come here and keep Shoaib tensed for this important match.”
Sania’s mother Naseema too remained at home in Hyderabad.
“The family is happy for Shoaib’s knock but disappointed over India’s loss in the match.
“Even my daughter supports Team India, but not when Shoaib Malik is a member of the Pakistan team,” the father said.
Pakistan sealed their five-wicket win over India with a blistering six by Shoaib in the final over, off Ravinder Jadeja’s bowling.
“My man of the match is Shoaib Malik. His 57 runs came at a crucial time and he remained at the crease even after another half-centurion and captain Mohammad Hafeez was out (on 61), If I were the adjudicator, I would have announced Malik as the player of the match,” Mirza Senior opined.
Sania and former Pakistani captain Shoaib married in April, 2010. The wedding was held in Hyderabad, followed by a Walima and reception ceremonies in Sialkot and Lahore in Pakistan.
The publicity and the online attention the wedding received made Sania the most searched woman tennis player and most searched Indian sportsperson in the year 2010, according to Google trends.
Shoaib’s family reside in Pakistan, while the couple stay in Dubai. “Sania had been to Pakistan once after that,” added Mirza Senior.
“There were no tennis tournaments in Pakistan but I accompanied her when Shoaib was playing in Pakistan.”