“Sania Mirza knows the truth and the family members from both sides are all happy about my wedding which is going to take place in Hyderabad on April 15,” said former Pakistani captain Shoaib.

In his first interaction with the media after arriving last Friday, a visibly relaxed Shoaib repeatedly stressed he was not going to discuss anything relating to his alleged earlier marriage with another Hyderabad girl Ayesha Siddiqui.

“The matter is sub judice and my lawyer will answer any queries on the subject,” was all that he said, despite persistent queries. However, the two-page statement issued by him referred to the subject in detail.

The Pakistani cricketer also made it clear that Sania will continue to play for India and he will represent Pakistan. “We are delighted at the way preparations are going on. The list of invitees is not yet finalised and we are still in the process of doing so. Definitely, all my family members will be here for the wedding since both Sania and I have the blessings of everyone concerned,” he explained.

In his statement, Shoaib reiterated that there was no valid nikah because they (Ayesha’s family) pressured him into it, with the intention to cheat. “In Islam, there can be a divorce, only if the nikah is valid. I was wrongly made to believe that the pictures Ayesha had sent me were of the girl I was marrying. I feel terrible about the mess created by a family, that has caused great grief to my own people and the family of my bride-to-be,” Shoaib said.