Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik were married according to Islamic customs at a five-star hotel in the city on Monday.
“The nikaah (wedding) is completed. Please pray for the couple,” Sania’s spokesperson Rucha Naik told the media.
The Mirza family was advised by friends to not wait till April 15, but get married as early as possible to quickly put the controversy surrounding Malik’s first marriage behind them.
The nikaah was performed in the presence of family members from both sides.
Shoaib paid Rs 61 lakh as meher (dowry) to Sania.
“It was a simple affair, which lasted barely 10 minutes,” said one of Sania’s relatives. “About 100 people, including 40 from Shoaib’s side, attended the marriage.”
Later, lunch was held at the same venue.
Sania was dressed in a bright-red embroidered sari, while Malik wore a black sherwani. Sania and her family left their Jubliee Hills residence and reached hotel Taj Deccan, next to Taj Krishna, the venue, shortly after noon.
The last-minute hitch over the qazi’s refusal to perform the ceremony without Malik’s passport was resolved on Sunday, with the Mirzas getting a no-objection certificate from the police.
{{/usCountry}}The last-minute hitch over the qazi’s refusal to perform the ceremony without Malik’s passport was resolved on Sunday, with the Mirzas getting a no-objection certificate from the police.
{{/usCountry}}Malik’s passport is with the police in connection with a case filed by his first wife, Ayesha Siddiqui.