Karachi:
Annoyed by the hype over his marriage with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has appealed to the media to practice some restrain.
Malik said due to the continuous attention, he and Sania cannot live like a normal couple. (
In Pics: Sania-Shoaib - The Wedding Album)
"I am pleased to know that people are happy with our marriage but I think now it is time to stop this hype and let us live like a normal couple. I would request the media to leave alone both the families," Shoaib said when he and Sania appeared together for the first time on a Pakistani channel last night. (
Read & Watch: Newlyweds Sania, Shoaib Talk to NDTV)
"Two people from different countries got married and it should only be treated as a marriage nothing more," Malik told 'Ary News'.
Malik said he was happy at the celebrations in Pakistan but he was now tired of playing bodyguard to his wife.
"I would ask the media to reduce the hype let our families enjoy this occasion as any family would celebrate a marriage. Because of all this hype I couldn't even meet with my friends and relatives properly at the reception in Sialkot, it was a mad rush," he said.
Malik, who is presently serving a 12-month ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board, was also disappointed by the negative stories about them.
"I can only laugh at stories in the media that invitation cards for our wedding reception were sold. This thing about our wedding cards being sold it is laughable. Please don't turn wedding cards into credit cards," Malik said.
Sania Mirza said she was surprised by the hype in the media over their marriage.
"It is not like ours is a great big love story.
Strangely we were introduced by a common friend from the media then I met him in Hobart and our families also met and we decided to get married," she said.
There are reports after unruly scenes at the reception in Sialkot on Sunday night, Sania's father Imran is personally supervising all security arrangements for the Valima reception in Lahore.