Was Shoaib behind Sania-Sohrab split?

Zeenews Bureau Hyderabad: India’s tennis ace, Sania Mirza is to be married to Shoaib Malik, the former cricket captain of Pakistan. A formal wedding reception has been scheduled within a month as per latest information. Also there will be no engagement function, it was told to reporters. This news was confirmed by Imran Mirza, father of Sania Mirza. “The couple will be based in Dubai, where Shoaib is a resident, and Sania will continue to play tennis once she recovers fully from the wrist injury that has marred her career in the recent past,” Imran said. Interestingly, Pakistani media reports said Sania and Malik fell in love six-and-half months back and it could be the reason for the breaking up of Sania’s engagement with Sohrab. Sources say the two first met in Australia in January where Sania had just crashed out of the Australian Open and Pakistan had suffered yet another embarrassing defeat at the hands of Ricky Ponting`s men. Not a trip to remember professionally but personally it was to be a life-changing one at least for Sania, who broke off her engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza at the end of that month, citing incompatibility. “We were friends for years but found ourselves incompatible as fiances,” Sania had said while wishing Sohrab the very best in life. However, Aadil Mirza, Sohrab’s father, said that he has no issues with Sania getting married to Shoaib and that he has already wished her luck for a good future ahead. “I spoke to Imran (Sania’s father) and congratulated him. It is a happy thing. I wish best of luck for them,” Adil Mirza told reporters here. He said Sania’s engagement to Shoaib Malik will not affect the ties between the two families. “No way. It is an old relationship,” he said. Adil said Sohrab Mirza was aware of the development and he would wish Sania on her engagement. Shoaib too had been luckless in love before meeting Sania and that incidentally also had a Hyderabad connection. The all-rounder was accused of marrying and dumping one Ayesha Siddiqui but Shoaib denied that, insisting that he was merely engaged to the said girl. Both seem to be controversy`s favourite child with Shoaib, a former captain of the Pakistan team, currently serving a one-year ban for indiscipline on the Australia tour and Sania battling a wrist injury besides warding off queries about just why she ended her engagement with Sohrab. Sania`s career has veered off towards the uncertain after a breakthrough 2005. She rose to a career-high 27 in the WTA rankings in 2007 but poor form and never-ending injury battles have seen her slide to 92 currently. Ironically, the two would be getting married at a time when India-Pakistan diplomatic ties have frozen following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. But they are certainly not the first cross-border couple. Former Pakistan Test opener Mohsin Khan had tied Indian actress Reena Roy in the 1980s but the marriage didn`t last. Marriage casts a shadow over Sania`s career but given the support Shoaib is promising, the Hyderabadi seems set to continue her on-court life as well. "I fully understand what it takes to be an international sports person and I will support Sania in her career as long as she wishes to play. Representing India at the 2012 Olympics is very important for her and I will be the proudest husband if she can win a medal for her country," said Shoaib. Sania, who has lived in media glare ever since rising to stardom as an 18-year-old after moderate success on the WTA circuit, has pleaded for privacy. "My wedding is inshallah going to be the biggest day of my life. I have been in the constant glare for too long and would appreciate the privacy at this very personal moment in my life," she said. But given the massive interest surrounding her new relationship, quote-hungry journalists are unlikely to leave her alone. -PTI inputs