The wedding was a secret affair with only close family members attending the gathering.
According to family sources, the Nikkah was solemnised after Isha prayers on June 23 in Mohalla Ramzani, and was attended by close family members.
Sources said Shoaib Akhtar’s family met Mushtaq Khan, a businessman from Haripur while on Hajj last year and asked Khan’s wife for help in finding a suitable match for the 39-year-old retired cricketer.
"There were not more than ten people," disclosed a close relative of Mushtaq, who’s wife helped make the match.
Reportedly, Akhtar’s wife Rubab was born in 1994 and has little interest in cricket. She appeared in intermediate exams conducted by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Abbottabad last month.
On June 7, The Express Tribune had reported that the man popularly known as the Rawalpindi Express, was set to marry a teenage girl from the district of Haripur but the cricketer denied these allegations.
Akhtar even rebutted these claims on his Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/DaFastestBowler/status/475255703872233472
Earlier, a mehndi function was scheduled for June 19, rukhsati for June 20 at Haripur’s Bilawal Hall and valima for June 22 in Rawalpindi.
Further, family sources revealed that the cricketer became conscious and decided to keep it a low-key affair after the story was published in The Express Tribune. He requested his in-laws to either shift the venue to some other city or reschedule the dates, a close family member said.
COMMENTS (47)
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@Vijay: Age difference of 10 or 20 or whatever man. If the couple is happy, a "mature" individual shouldnt be concerned at all. Speaking of which, you dont give a hoot to whatever is happening in Pakistan, yet you are commenting on a news that didnt make a minor headline in Pakistan! How "mature" is that?
@Sudhindra: Dont watch Indian copy paste movies madam. The only reason i got to know, is through our media..
How come his wife become 20 from 17 in one month. Anyway congrats shoaib
@Mirza: Sir, to add to your comments that after the death of a man his wife gets everything in the West not just 1/8 like Pakistan. She therefore is never dependent upon her sons or daughters and remains head of the family.
@Vijay:
You should be more concerned about your practices. Remember your great Raja Dahir who married to his sister? Is it still the common practice in India ?
@goldconsumer Rememeber Saif and Katrina??
I'm presuming you meant "Kareena" ...
@Strategic Asset: Hope his wife passes the exams
Don't you think it is more important for the 40 yrs old Shoaib to pass his exam ?
@Vijay: Rememeber Saif and Katrina?? He he he he.. :p She was grown up but he was, too much grown up. She attended his first marriage as a 10 year old... He he he he..
He he! I came here to read reactions of Paki public but saw a huge acceptance! Common folks! Grow up and let the girls also grow up first ;) OK.. let the mud slinging start now!
Congrats to both...Bride and Groom...Wish you both a very Happy & Prosperous married life & future.Matured men are very caring,loving and they respect their wives...
In West polygamy is a crime if reported. In addition wife gets at least half of all assets. In most cases man has to leave the house with woman and kids. In most of the cases marriage is a civil matter between two consenting adults. In Pakistan all the wives would get a total of 1/8th of the assets among them which would be barely enough to live on. Also the man can throw her wife out of the home by uttering one word three times. After the man dies his wives become dependent of the sons and cannot even perform Hajj without them. It is Shoaib and his family's choice and private matter let us not compare with the west without any security system for women in Bakistan.
Marrying a girl, half of his age, is like buying a book for others to read.
@Karachiite: Having huge age difference is not a big problem, if both adults are in love and know what are the consequences. When our great hero Imran Khan had age difference of more than 20 years. In that particular case, he and Jemima were in love, both had free will and also had freedom of choice but in Shoaib's case this is purely an arranged marriage. Therefore comparing this marriage with Western marriages is not right.
@Karachiite:
"We don’t have problem if 49 years old Johnny Depp marries 26 years old Amber Heard. We don’t have problem if any other Angraiz does this."
What you are missing is that there is not societal, religious, family or cultural pressure in western countries on women to be forced to marry. Also, western women are truly independent and are much more educated.
Can you say the same things about Pakistani women? Pakistan has a culture and religious practice of marrying off young women to men who are often old enough to be their fathers or even grandfathers.
In Pakistan , is it legal to marry underage girl ?? So far we know below 18 year considered to be underage .
I see nothing wrong with it.. tribune should be ashamed of making this as a big shush shush. Look at the picture doest look like she is being forced into it. Stupid media.
So what???? The girl and his family would be aware of his age. What's a big deal?
@Rashid: so you saying woman have no protection in marriage according to islam? You need to educate yourself about woman in islam.
@truthbetold, you are right about the fact that at the name of religion pathetic decisions are made in our country weather it's remarrying for their own pleasure, or marrying someone who is young enough to be your daughter. It's not about consent it's disgusting that everyone here is supporting the idea of literally a child being married off to a 39 year old. How would their opinions, future plans, idealism, maturity anything match?
@Karachiite well if you want to quote west, then quote it properly In west a man can have only one spouse, plus in case of divorce he has to share half of his property with her. So it gives a security to the spouse financially as well her husband cannot marry another one at the same time like a piece of cake in our society. Plus a woman can also divorce her husband.
Implement all these laws over here, and then think of following west.
@Cheema, yes wish them best of luck on this new journey.
shockingly saying people are so aggressive to media person in any issue , it's unfair to always blame media . when we r talking about girls education , women empowerment & her equal right in our society that means a prosperous society in our eyes. people r talking the 18 yr teen girl already in adultery age so there is no problem to marry her , here my question is just at the name of adultery age if a society allows the 39 yr old guy to marry a teen girl than what effect would be in our next generation where we r still not a postion to deliver a basic education ? society is allowing to marry her but is it right ethically ? As what I know about Islam , it never said girl shoud be allow to marry in their teen age . Above all the male dominated society not the solution of our society rather it would be very dangerous day by day . when celebrity like people do this thing it's than more dangerous . My request to people of these society please give them space to learn , to educate , to get prosperous ............ women are our power . At least respect them .......
Media had ruined Shoaib's career, now they want to ruin his married life too.... pathetic!
Congrats and welcome to the married club. Now get back to normal life as this is what marriage is.
@AZ dude he's supposed to be a role model for your country. Its understandable in love marriage but arrange? In today's time what message is he sending seeking and marrying someone potential his daughter's age? She's giving her exams for god sake, and his in 40 categ now. Would you seek such alliance for your own family member girl?
What a Pitty? How much self destructive are we? And this is the extreme example of a kind of leg pulling.
We don't have problem if 49 years old Johnny Depp marries 26 years old Amber Heard. We don't have problem if any other Angraiz does this. (There are lots of such examples). But as soon as somebody does this in Pakistan, our so called democratic & educated people share their critical views.
We really need to change our way of thinking. Stop annoying others.......... please....................................
If he is indeed married than best wishes to the new couple.
@AZ:
"Marrying a 19 years old girl is not an issue islamically."
Also, "islamically" it is not an issue when men marry four women with the latter wives getting younger all the time. You don't see this as a societal/islamic problem of women's oppression and treating them as property to be enjoyed and thrown away when they get old?
As long as the marriage is between two consenting adults (at least 18 or 19 years of age), who are not of direct close family patronage it should be no one's business
@Cheema, that is exactly how this media ruined his career. Every news portrayed involving him was negative, people started treating him as a villain. He was the best after Akram but sadly got wasted by media. He might have won a 100 matches more, had he been treated well. Apart from his deadly bowling, he is one of the sharpest cricketing mind we have
@Rashid: if she is a consulting adult then shoaib akhtars age is not an issue.
When Shoaib is okay,girl is okay their families are happy,what's the problem with everyone? Marrying a 19 years old girl is not an issue islamically.
Hope his wife passes the exams.
@Cheema Well our newspapers should not make such negative headlines if someone get marry with an adult girl. But as long as your comparison of Junaid and Shoaib is concern, you have to remember 20 yo girl is half the age of Akhtar, while Junaid is only 24 yo.
Nothing wrong with it. Congrats to both.
ET had earlier reported that the girl to be wedded to the former cricketer is 17 yrs old which appears to be correct as she has just appeared in her intermediate exams.
@Cheema, junaid khan is not 39 year old like Shoaib akhtar he is still under 30.
Wish him good luck and that is all.
The "Rawalpindi Express" has left the platform. Congrats to the legend and May Allah grant them a happy and prosperous union. Ameen