I'm here to clear my name: Shoaib

Hyderabad, Apr 5: Speaking to the media for the first time over their much-debated marriage and the related controversies, Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik stood by each others side and stuck to the plans of getting married on Apr 15.

"I am here for my marriage and to clear my name," said the Pakistani cricketer who faces criminal charges of cheating and harassment in connection with the complaint filed by a Hyderbadi woman, Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims that she was married to Malik in 2002.

On the question if he was ready to apologise to the Siddiqui family, Shoaib made it clear that there was no question of rendering an apology.

"Why is Ayesha making statements behind the camera? Where is she?" he questioned, alleging that she was just creating a controversy for publicity by approaching the media instead of coming to a court to sort out the issue.

Standing by him throughout the interview and urging the media-persons to let her future husband speak, Sania Mirza said, "Me and my family have known the truth all along."

She said that the marriage will be taking place, as planned, on Apr 15 as there were no apprehensions about it.

"We are happy that we are together. We are happy that we are getting married insha allah," said the tennis ace.

She also urged the media to refrain from making statements that would cause pain to or hurt the families of the couple until the court and the police authorities bring the truth out.

The couple knew Ayesha Siddiqui

Even though no significant legal detail on the police cases and the marriage was revealed, both Sania and Shoaib admitted to knowing Ayesha Siddiqui.

Shoaib said that he looked at Ayesha as a sister.

"I used to call her maha-apa, meaning bigger sister," the cricketer said.

Expressing shock over the allegations, Sania said, "..we've been family friends but there is no question of out-of-court settlement."

OneIndia News