Shoaib Malik may be embattled in India, but he is getting support from his fans in his home town in Sialkot. The cricketer's fans in that town are backing him saying Shoaib's marriage with Sania Mirza is their private affair, but their 'cross border love' could help improve Indo-Pak ties.
The support comes a day after a Geo TV poll conducted across Pakistan showed sympathy for Shoaib's alleged first wife Ayesha Siddiqui. After Malik and his fiancee Sania Mirza appeared before the media however, the tide seems to have turned in his favour.
There has been indignation from some quarters too, after the registration of a criminal case against the cricketer in Hyderabad.
"Shoaib Malik is a good cricketer and Sania Mirza is a tennis star. They are both Muslims. Their marriage will also help in improving Indo-Pak ties. We welcome their marriage. We appeal to the Indian government to withdraw the cases against Shoaib," Shahnawaz, a resident of Sialkot, told TIMES NOW adding "This meeting of hearts across borders is a good thing".
Another resident, Shafiq said despite Ayesha Siddiqui's legal efforts against Malik, people in Sialkot are eagerly waiting for April 15 to celebrate the marriage between Malik and Mirza.
Earlier on Monday, leading Pakistani news channel Geo TV reported that Ayesha, who claims to be Shoaib Malik's first wife, was getting sympathy even in Pakistan. According to the poll only about 38% of responders said they believed Ayesha to be in the wrong.
However there is a sense, after Malik's media conference yesterday, that people are now waiting to see Ayesha also come out and defend herself. Ayesha has so far only given telephone interviews to news channels, saying she will reveal herself at an appropriate time.
"Geo TV has been doing a very balanced reporting. Where there has been sympathy for Ayesha Siddiqui, and there has also been sympathy for Shoaib. People are trying to be quite unbiased about it. They are saying if Ayesha is right, then Shoaib Malik should bear the consequences but if she is not, then Shoaib Malik should just go ahead and get married," said Geo TV news anchor Fatima.
She added, "Sania and Shoaib mania has been the hot topic of the town. Offices, housewives and even the tea vendor on the street is talking about it. Now that Shoaib has come out in front of the camera, people in Pakistan are now thinking it's Ayesha's turn, as she would be weakening her case by not appearing in person for her public statements.
In Sialkot, however, the cricketer's fans are backing him to the hilt no matter what the outcome of the case.
