Sania not to play for Pakistan, says father

Hyderabad: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza’s family has rejected the idea of her playing for Pakistan after her marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malek in a fortnight’s time.

In reaction to the statement of Pakistan Tennis Federation Chief Dilawar Abbas hoping that Sania will become a Pakistani citizen and play tennis for Pakistan, Sania’s father Imran Mirza has ruled out such a possibility.

“Sania will continue to play for India and she will not play for Pakistan”, Mirza said categorically in a SMS.

Sania Mirza’s decision to marry a Pakistani has already raised eyebrows in India, with some stating that she could have found a suitable boy here.

But she and her family tried to soothe the feelings by saying that she will continue to play for India even after marriage and she will be based in Dubai and not in Pakistan.

The family has made it clear that Sania has no intention of leaving her Indian citizenship and becoming a Pakistani national.