Shoaib questioned by Indian police over 'marriage' allegations

HYDERABAD (India): Police have questioned ex-Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik ahead of his planned marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza regarding allegations made by another woman claiming to be the cricket player’s first wife.

Malik has been asked not to leave India while police in Hyderabad investigate the charges, senior police official A.K. Khan said Monday.

In her complaint, filed Sunday, Ayesha Siddique alleged that Malik had married her in June 2002 and she accused him of subjecting her to cruelty and harassment by denying that the wedding took place and by trying to marry another woman.

Malik and Siddique had reportedly developed a friendship on the Internet.

Malik said in a written statement on Sunday that he had married a girl named Ayesha over the telephone phone in June 2002 and signed a marriage certificate but he believed he had been deceived by another woman claiming to be Ayesha Siddique.

He arrived in Hyderabad, Mirza’s hometown, last week from Pakistan to work out arrangements for his wedding to the tennis star, which is scheduled to take place April 15.

Mirza broke off a previous engagement earlier this year before announcing her plans to marry Malik.

The news of the Malik-Mirza wedding plans sparked instant news coverage in the region because neighbouring Pakistan and India are long-time rivals, and have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.

Police visited the home of Mirza in Hyderabad, the capital of southern Andhra Pradesh state, where Malik is staying and recorded his statement on Monday, Stephan Ravindra, a deputy commissioner of police said.

Police are investigating complaints of criminal intimidation, cheating, fraud and harassment for dowry against the Pakistani cricketer, Ravindra told The Associated Press. Police also questioned the complainant, Siddique.

Siddique claims to have a copy of “Nikahnama” or a marriage certificate issued by the Pakistani authorities in Malik’s hometown Sialkot in June 2002. It carries the signature of Shoaib Malik as well as those of two witnesses.

Malik has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year due to infighting within the team during a disastrous tour of Australia this year. - AP