- Title: INDIA: Police seize Shoaib Malik's passport over marriage
- Date: 6th April 2010
- Summary: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (APRIL 5, 2010) (ANI) INDIA'S TENNIS PLAYER SANIA MIRZA AND FORMER PAKISTAN CRICKET CAPTAIN SHOAIB MALIK LEAVING HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOAIB MALIK, FORMER PAKISTANI CRICKET CAPTAIN, SAYING: "I just want to stay here, I just want stay here. First I was here for the marriage, now I am here for the marriage and to clear my name because I earn this respect. And I am here to clear my name and for that I am not leaving the country, I am here and I will Inshallah (God willing) clear my name. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SHOAIB MALIK, FORMER PAKISTANI CRICKET CAPTAIN, SAYING: "(Q: Has police seized your passport?) Well that was their requirement and I had to give my passport. (English) And I have no objections." MIRZA AND MALIK (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu/English) SHOAIB MALIK, FORMER PAKISTAN CRICKET CAPTAIN, SAYING: "I am not at all ready for it. And I just want to ask something, I just want to ask something, that lady, I don't know her exact name, what should I call, Ayesha, Maha, I don't know but why is she making statements behind the camera? Where is she? I am standing here, making my statement, where is she? You should take her statement, ten years back I was 18 years old, and you just go and ask her age, find that out." WIDE OF MIRZA AND MALIK (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu and English) SHOAIB MALIK, FORMER PAKISTAN CRICKET CAPTAIN, SAYING: "I think no one can understand Nikahnama (marriage certificate). Its a legal thing, just prove it, I am here, I will answer all the questions, first prove it. I am here." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANIA MIRZA, INDIAN TENNIS PLAYER, SAYING: "It is my responsibility and I think it is our responsibility to let the police investigate. Let them investigate, if there is a Nikah (marriage) and the court proves it, he is ready to do whatever, he said it himself. If there is no, if its not proven, we know what the truth is. Our family knows, he knows, I know, we know what the truth is, it will come out and we believe in justice." MIRZA AND MALIK SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS REPORTERS AND CROWD GATHERED OUTSIDE SANIA MIRZA'S HOUSE
- Embargoed: 21st April 2010 11:43
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA3THWPRPHD0B721PLWXKRGQHAA
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Police on Monday (April 5) seized the passport of the Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik -- soon to wed India's tennis player Sania Mirza -- and questioned him in connection with allegations that he already has a wife, officers said.
Two of South Asia's best known sports personalities, Malik and Mirza planned to marry in April and settle in Dubai.
But in a case whose twists and turns have gripped India, a woman called Ayesha Siddiqui filed a police case against Malik claiming the two married in 2002 and has demanded a divorce.
Malik arrived in India last week and is staying at Mirza's house in Hyderabad, where police questioned him for nearly two hours. They have also alerted airports not to allow the cricketer to leave the country.
"I am here to clear my name and for that I am not leaving the country, I am here and I will Inshallah (God willing) clear my name." Malik told reporters from Hyderabad.
The cricketer rejected Siddiqui accusations.
"That lady, I don't know her exact name, what should I call, Ayesha, Maha, I don't know but why is she making statements behind the camera? Where is she? I am standing here, making my statement, where is she?" he and added: "Just prove it, I am here, I will answer all the questions."
"It is my responsibility and I think it is our responsibility to let the police investigate. Let them investigate, if there is a Nikah (marriage) and the court proves it, he is ready to do whatever, he said it himself. If there is no, if its not proven, we know what the truth is. Our family knows, he knows, I know, we know what the truth is, it will come out and we believe in justice," added Mirza.
Police said the case was under investigation.
Malik, 28, has been fighting a 12-month ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board for poor performance and indiscipline.
The 23-year-old Mirza was the first Indian to win a WTA tour event in 2005 and reached her highest world ranking of 27 three years ago although she has since slipped to 92nd.
Marriages between citizens of old foes India and Pakistan are not entirely uncommon, with Muslim families who migrated to Pakistan after the nation was carved out in 1947 maintaining ties with families who remained in India.
The marriage had already sparked controversy with the Shiv Sena, saying Mirza's heart could not be truly Indian if she chose to marry a Pakistani. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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