The sports fraternity in India are in a shock to learn of Pakistan cricket star Shoaib Malik’s marriage with Lollywood actor Sana Javed yesterday. The speculation about Malik’s separation from Indian tennis star Sania Mirza were in air for last few days. It became a reality yesterday when Malik-Sana wedlock hogged the limelight of the media. Both Shoaib and Sana shared photos from their wedding. Is it going to be third time lucky for Malik? Only time will tell!
In the photos, the duo smiled and held each other as they posed for the camera. For their special day, he wore a beige sherwani while she was seen in a traditional outfit. The couple shared photos from their nikah ceremony. They captioned the joint post jointly, “Alhamdullilah And We created you in pairs.” After making their wedding official, Sana changed her name on Instagram.
Both Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik kept tight-lipped about speculation about their separation, keeping their personal affairs under the lid. However, on January 17, Sania Mirza shared a cryptic post, sparking rumours of her divorce with Shoaib Malik.
“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard.
There is the first chapter in Shoaib Malik’s marriage. Malik’s first marriage controversy with Ayesha Siddiqui unfolded dramatically, involving police complaints and a substantial alimony payment. The incident preceded his marriage to Sania Mirza.
Sania Mirza, who is currently part of the Australian Open commentary panel for the broadcasters in India, has not spoken in public about their separation till Malik Sana marriage became a prime news.
Actually, Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed were subject of gossip to be dating and the Pakistan cricketer added fuel to fire when he wished the Pakistan actor on her birthday last year. “Happy Birthday Buddy,” Malik had written, sharing a photo of them together on his Instagram page.
Sana also shared photos from their wedding ceremony on social media yesterday. Fans of the star cricketer were taken aback as tittle-tattleof Malik-Sania separation had hogged headlines on both sides of the border.
It may be recalled that Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza were married in a traditional Muslim ceremony in Hyderabad, India in 2010, followed by a Walima (marriage banquet, second traditional part of an Islamic wedding ceremony) in Sialkot, Pakistan. From the wedlock, Izhaan, the couple’s first child, was born in 2018.
The hearsay of their separation died down a bit when Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik celebrated their son’s birthday in Dubai last year. Sania and Shoaib put thetlk of the street to rest when they hosted the ‘Mirza-Malik’ TV show together from Dubai. However, the rumours resurfaced late last year again when Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza made changes to their bios on their social media.
In August 2023, Shoaib Malik changed his Instagram bio from “Husband to a superwoman Sania Mirza” to simply “Father to One True Blessing.” Both Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza have removed photos of them together from each of their social media profiles.
Coming back to Sana Javed who is a Pakistani actor in popular Urdu television shows. She made her debut in 2012 with Shehr-e-Zaat and later appeared in several serials. Earlier, she tied the knot with Pakistani actor and singer-songwriter Umair Jaswal in 2020 in an intimate Nikah ceremony.
On the other side of the spectrum, Sania Mirza is an Indian ex professional tennis player. A former doubles world No. 1, she won six major titles – three in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles. From 2003 until her retirement from singles in 2013, she was ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association as the No. 1 Indian in singles. Sania is endowed with clarity of thought. She told Shoaib Malik in no uncertain terms that she will play for India after marriage. You will see “Sania Mirza India” in all her matches. Personal choice in life partner is one thing and patriotism for country is another thing. She is the brand ambassador of Telangana which is an inspiration of all Indian girls. She has started her own tennis academy in Telangana. She is, was and will always be Indian. Prayers are pouring from all over the country expressing sympathy with Sania.
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