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19 March 2024

Shoaib Malik hits century, Sania showers love on husband

Pakistan cricket player Shoaib Malik and his wife, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, sit on a stage during their wedding reception in Sialkot, Pakistan's Punjab Province on April 25. (Reuters)

Published
By Ajanta Paul

Shoaib Malik hit his first century in six years to help Pakistan outbat Zimbabwe in the first day-night international by 41 runs in Lahore on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Malik, playing his first one-dayer after two years, notched up a 76-ball 112 with 12 fours and two sixes to steer Pakistan to 375-3.

AFP

After Shoaib Malik hit the brilliant century, his wife, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza tweeted and congratulated him for the marvelous innings.

She posted a picture of Shoaib kissing the ground after his ton. She wrote, "Allhamdulillah @realshoaibmalik so happy for you .. Belief does wonders.."

News of differences and separation of Shoaib and Sania have been making the rounds in the media for many months now.

In the past, Sania has dismissed reports that her marriage with Malik is in trouble. She has accepted the fact that their marriage has not been easy because of their profession.

The fact that they come from different countries doesn't make things easy either.

Speculations of differences became rife due to the continued distance between the two sporting personalities.

But as of now their Twitter devotion spells only romance between the couple.

In April when Mirza created history by becoming the first Indian woman to become the World No.1 in doubles ranking, proud husband Malik was showering his love on Twitter.

He wrote about his admiration for the tennis player and professed his love for the wife.

He was retweeting every congratulatory tweets on his timeline.

Pakistan ex-cricket captain's joy was two-folded as April 12 marked the 5th wedding anniversary of the couple.

And this time it was Sania responding to Malik's brilliant inning.

Earlier, Malik scored his first century since his three-figure knock against India at Centurion in September 2009.

Malik built on a confident 170-run opening stand between Mohammad Hafeez (86) and Ali (79) as Pakistan improved on their previous best total against Zimbabwe of 349 at Jamaica in 2007.

Malik's hundred - his first in 31 innings and since September 2009 - came off 70 balls as Pakistan added 112 in the last 10 overs.