Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik

Islamabad/Karachi/Sarjah, Mar 30, 2010: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza is engaged to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik and they might tie the knot next month, claimed a television channel here. Geo television reported yesterday that the two sporting superstars have got engaged and their marriage would take place in April, but there was no confirmation from either of the families.

The report came as a surprise in India and repeated phone calls to Sania’s father Imran for a confirmation went unanswered. An e-mail query on the development also didn’t get any response.

Incidentally, Shoaib was earlier accused of marrying another Hyderabad girl, Ayesha Siddiqui, in 2002 over phone even though the cricketer said he was merely engaged to her.

Ayesha’s father had also threatened to sue Malik for jilting the girl and not giving her divorce.

According to the channel, Shoaib’s mother met Sania’s parents in India and accepted her as future daughter-in-law.

The ‘Walima’ or reception is expected to be held in Lahore on April 16 or 17, according to the channel, which quoted sources as saying that Sania and Shoaib fell in love some six-and-half months ago and it could be the reason for the breaking up of Sania’s engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza.

“I desire to get married soon. You will soon get some good news but it depends on my family. I fully expect to get married this year,” Shoaib had said in a recent interaction with the media here.

Asked if it would be an arranged marriage, he said, “No can say what will happen, but it will take place with the concurrence of my family.”

Malek is currently in the UAE, turning out for Dhaka’s Mohammedan Sporting Club in the ongoing PCL T20 Bashundhara Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Geo Television reported that the two sporting superstars had got engaged following a six-month long relationship and their marriage would take place in April.

Agencies