New Delhi, Hyderabad:
Bollywood could have scripted this. Sporting superstars in love, getting married. Across the Indo-Pak border. A wedding in Hyderabad, a reception in Lahore, a home in Dubai.
Everyone wants more details ever since news broke that India's tennis ace Sania Mirza, 23, will marry Pakistan's stylish cricketer Shoaib Malik, 28.
(Twitter Buzz)On Tuesday night, Sania Mirza appeared before the media and officially announced the date of her marriage - April 11. The reception will be held on April 15.
(In pics: Sania, Shoaib getting married in April) Sania said she and Shoaib will settle in Dubai after marriage. Sania revealed that she met Shoaib for the first time 6-7 years ago.
(Read: In Mumbai, a woman asks: How could she?)However, the tennis star made it clear that she play for India while Shoaib will play for Pakistan.
"I will decide on career course after playing in Olympics in 2012," said Sania.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shoaib Mailk told a Pakistani news channel that he will be getting married to the Indian tennis star very soon.
Sources in Pakistan say the former Pakistan Captain and his family will leave Lahore for Delhi on April 7. They will then travel to Hyderabad for the wedding for the wedding. The reception (Walima) will take place in Lahore on the 15th of April. There will also be a wedding reception in Dubai, where Shoaib lives, between these functions.
About 15 to 20 members of Shoaib's family planning to travel to India for the wedding have applied for Indian visas. Shoaib reportedly already has an Indian visa, issued ahead of the IPL, the sources added.
In Delhi, the bride-to-be flew in on a brief visit to get her visa to Pakistan for the reception. Accompanied by her mother, Sania went to the Pakistan High Commission and completed formalities.
"We have got the visa. We are happy. Now that we have got the visa, we will be travelling to Pakistan", Sania's mother Nasima Mirza told reporters.
Her mother said the family was very happy with Sania's decision. "We are very happy about her decision. We are all with her and Inshallah we wish all the best to her," she said.
Nasima refused to talk about Sania's previous engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza. "I don't want to comment on what all happened in the past and we should all look ahead," she said.
On Monday night, Sania's father Imran Mirza said in a statement that the couple would be based in Dubai, where the cricketer lives.
"This is a unique case where the husband and wife will represent their respective countries in sport," Imran said in the statement.
As news spread on Monday night, a tweet from "Shoaib Malik" seemed to confirm the news of their marriage: "Thanks for all your support. And the news of me marrying to Sania is true. Inshallah will get married in April."
But on Tuesday, Sania tweeted: "Cant wait to get back on court around wimbeldon:) the wrist is healing well.FYI Shoaib's account on twitter is fake, he's not even on twitter."
And, in what seemed to sum up the moment for India's favourite woman sports star: "Hi Guys! Me & Shoaib are very happy in this new phase of our life. Want to thank the media & all you guys for the wishes:) lots of love to all."