Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza have been divorced for a few months now, says father Imran Mirza

After news of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik marrying actor Sana Javed broke out amid separation rumours with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Indian news outlet PTI has confirmed that the sports couple had called it quits long ago. Speaking with PTI, Sania's father Imran Mirza disclosed that Sania took a khula from Shoaib, officially confirming that the two are no longer a couple. 

On Sunday, Imran took to Instagram with a short note addressing speculation on his daughter’s marriage. “Sania has always kept her personal life away from the public eye,” began the tennis player’s father, stressing the need to respect privacy. “However, today the need has arisen for her to share that Shoaib and she have been divorced for a few months now.”

He furthered on, “She wishes Shoaib well for his new journey ahead!” Imran capped the note with a request to respect Sania’s personal life. “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 respect her need for privacy.”

The high-profile couple had maintained a tight-lipped approach regarding their personal affairs, even as speculation about their separation swirled. The sportsman, who had tied the knot with Indian tennis star, Sania in 2010, fathers a son with his former wife. The gossip mill had been buzzing with the ex-couple's divorce rumours for almost two years now.

While neither Shoaib nor Sania has addressed the divorce still, a recent post by the tennis player had sparked rumours. “Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard,” read the text in the reposted note.

“Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely,” Sania shared indirectly via the post, reigniting the rumours of trouble in paradise for her and her husband Shoaib.

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