Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik made headlines on Saturday morning as he officially announced his second marriage to popular Pakistani actor Sana Javed. The revelation comes amidst ongoing speculations about troubles in Shoaib's relationship with retired Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.
Sania Mirza's father, Imran Mirza according to PTI, responded to the development, mentioning that “it was a 'khula,'” signifying the right of a Muslim woman to unilaterally divorce her husband.
What Is Khula?
Within Muslim law, Khula serves as a method of divorce accessible to Muslim women. It allows a woman to obtain a divorce by returning the Mahr (Dower) – the sum of money or property given to her by the husband for the marriage. Khula is initiated by the wife, analogous to talaq, which is initiated by the husband. While the court may suggest reconciliation, the final decision lies with the wife.
Background:
Taking to his Instagram handle, Shoaib Malik shared several pictures from the nuptials, captioning them with the words "And We created you in pairs." The former cricket all-rounder's five-year-old son, Izaan, from his previous marriage with Sania Mirza, currently resides with the tennis star.
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Shoaib Malik's recent decision to unfollow Sania Mirza on Instagram had fueled the rumors, which had been circulating since 2022. The couple had been rarely seen together in recent years, further adding to the speculation. Malik's confirmation of a new chapter in his life involves tying the knot with Sana Javed, a renowned actor.
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The confirmation of Shoaib Malik's second marriage comes at a time when rumors about the couple's separation had reached a fever pitch. Sania Mirza had earlier hinted at the possibility of a split through a cryptic post on social media which had a mention of ‘divorce’ in it.
The couple, who got married in 2010, has been residing in Dubai. They welcomed their son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, in 2018. Reports suggest that Sania and Shoaib have allegedly ended their 12-year-long marriage and are now co-parenting Izhaan.
Sana Javed, the new addition to Shoaib Malik's life, is a household name in Pakistan's entertainment industry. Making her television debut in 2012 with 'Shehr-e-Zaat,' she gained recognition for her role in the romantic drama 'Khaani.'
She entered matrimony with singer Umair Jaiswal in 2020. Their union took place in a simple ceremony amid the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. However, just two months before this revelation, reports surfaced about the couple's separation, alluding to their divorce.
Sania Mirza, one of India's most celebrated tennis players, announced her retirement last year, bringing a close to a remarkable 20-year career. Throughout her illustrious journey, Sania secured 43 WTA doubles titles and clinched one singles trophy.
Shoaib Malik, known for his contributions as a batting all-rounder in international cricket, made his debut in 1999. His illustrious career saw him score 7534 runs in 287 ODIs, feature in 124 T20Is with 2435 runs, and play 35 Test matches, accumulating 1898 runs. T
The 41-year-old cricketer played his last international game for Pakistan against Bangladesh in 2021, marking the end of an era in his cricketing journey.