Confirming the whispers that have been circulating for some time, the family of renowned Indian tennis player Sania Mirza has officially announced that she and her husband, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, have divorced. The couple, who share a son together, tied the knot in a high-profile wedding in 2010 but have now parted ways, with the separation having taken place a few months ago.
The announcement comes in the wake of Shoaib Malik’s recent surprise wedding news with Pakistani actress Sana Javed, which has caught fans and media in a frenzy. Malik and Javed, who have collaborated professionally on multiple Pakistani television shows and commercials, showcased their union on social media, causing ripples across the subcontinent and particularly stirring up interest in India, where news of the Maliks’ marital status had been under speculation.
Amidst the rising clamor for details surrounding the end of Sania and Shoaib’s marriage, Sania’s sister, Anam Mirza, took to Instagram to release a statement on behalf of the Mirza family. The communication detailed Sania’s preference to maintain a discreet personal life but highlighted the necessity to address the current public discourse.
The statement elegantly expressed Sania’s intention to move forward and contained an appeal for privacy: “Sania has always kept her personal life away from the public eye. However, today the need has arisen for her to share that Shoaib and she have been divorced for a few months now. She wishes Shoaib well for his new journey ahead!” It continued, “At this sensitive period of her life, we would like to request all fans and well-wishers to refrain from indulging in any speculation and to respect her need for privacy.”
In an unexpected twist, reports from PTI have suggested that the divorce took the form of ‘khula’, a method in Islamic law which grants a woman the right to divorce her husband unilaterally. This detail sheds light on the nature of the separation and hints at the potential dynamics that may have led to this point.
Shifting the lens to Sana Javed, the new spouse of Shoaib Malik, her journey to the limelight began in Saudi Arabia where she was born on March 25, 1993. Javed made an impactful acting debut in 2012 in “Shehr-e-Zaat,” capturing hearts when cast alongside Mahira Khan. Thereafter, she continued to build her portfolio with a multitude of roles in popular television series. Notably, her performance as Sanam Ali Khan in the drama “Khaani” propelled her into prominence, and she went on to tackle sensitive issues on-screen, such as her acclaimed role as a rape survivor in “Ruswai.”
Previously, Sana Javed’s personal life also encountered public interest when she tied the knot with singer Umair Jaswal in 2020, but the marriage ended shortly thereafter.
As the public comes to terms with the revelations about these well-followed personalities, the overall sentiment shared by fans and the media appears to align with the Mirza family’s request: a period of adjustment and privacy is in order for all parties involved. Sania Mirza, in her time both on and off the tennis court, has demonstrated resilience and poise, and it is this very strength that her admirers expect will guide her through this latest chapter of her life.
