The controversy-racked marriage was apparently advanced in view of the objections raised by some in the Muslim community objecting to Shoaib staying as a guest in Sania’s house.

A fatwa was even issued here on Sunday by an Islamic cleric saying they were going against the community’s traditions and Islam-ordained behaviour for a couple-to-be married.

The marriage was a hush-hush affair in the Taj Krishna Hotel, avoiding journalists who  have been thronging  the house of the Mirzas ever since the marriage between the tennis star and Pakistani cricketer was announced 10 days ago. The marriage announcement was followed by a controversy raked up by Ayesha Siddiqui and her family demanding that Shoaib divorce his first wife Ayesha before marrying Sania.

The bride, accompanied by her family members, entered the hotel through the back door avoiding media persons, who were camping in front of the hotel.
Later, spokesperson for Sania Mirza, Rucha Nayak, announced to the media that the marriage had taken place. “Please pray for the couple,” she said unwittingly voicing the doubts being raised by many especially in the view of the unsavoury light in which Shoaib is being seen after the controversial divorce with Ayesha.  Rucha Nayak also announced that two days of traditional festivities would be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, while a reception would be held at the same Taj Krishna Hotel on April 15, for which about 1,000 guests have been invited.

Monday’s quiet and private ceremony was attended by about 75 guests, mostly members of the two families and a few close friends of the Mirzas. A reception will be held in Lahore in Pakistan on April 22, provided Shoaib’s passport is returned before then.
The passport was impounded by the police after a case of cheating was registered against Shoaib on the basis of Ayesha’s complaint. However, as the police complaint has now been withdrawn after their community elders-brokered divorce, no hassles are foreseen in the return of the passport.  In view of the uncertainty the Lahore reception has been postponed by a week.

The “Haq Mehr” (dower money) kept in the Nikah ceremony was a staggering Rs 61 lakh. “We kept it a simple affair. We are now relieved that marriage has finally taken place after so many controversies,” Shoaib’s brother-in-law Imran said.
“We had to obtain the photocopy of Shoaib’s passport from the Hyderabad Police for the Nikah ceremony as his passport is still in the possession of a court,” he said.
Imran said it was a happy occasion given the ordeal the two   families went through in the last few days.