In what is seen as a last minute U-turn by Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, after telling the media in Pakistan, India and the whole world that he never married or even knew Ayesha, the Siddiquis confirmed that Malik and Ayesha signed the divorce papers early this morning, according to this video.
BBC News reported, “Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik 'divorces first wife'… Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik's marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza is back on track after he reportedly divorced another woman.”
On the eve of his second wedding with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, here is another report from Dean Nelson in New Delhi, published by the Telegraph UK, on Apr 2010.
The former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik yesterday admitted that he is already married just days before his planned wedding to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.
Mr Malik, 28, made the confession after the Muslim woman he wed seven years ago handed her wedding night bed clothes to police for forensic testing to prove their marriage had been consummated. He said a divorce settlement had now been agreed.
Commentators compared her gambit with the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal in which her stained dress was used to prove the sexual relationship the former US president then denied.
Mr Malik's plans to marry Miss Mirza, 23, were thrown into doubt last week Ayeesha Siddiqui, 29, from Hyderabad, said he was already married to her and lodged a fraud and deception case against him.
She claimed the cricketer had married her in a telephone ceremony in 2002 following a long-distance courtship, but had later abandoned her after his cricket team-mates teased him because she was overweight.
However, Mr Malik maintained he had never met Miss Siddiqui and that she had duped him by passing off photographs of a prettier, slimmer girl as herself.
In a statement released in the presence of Miss Siddiqui's mother and relatives of Sania Mirza, Miss Siddiqui's uncle announced Mr Malik had accepted he was already married, and that he had agreed a nominal divorce settlement.
Miss Mirza and Mr Malik will now marry in Hyderabad next week before holding a reception in Pakistan and making a new home on neutral territory in Dubai.
The settlement was hailed as "justice" by Miss Siddiqui's family.
His sudden capitulation was met with surprise in India where Miss Siddiqui's claims had been regarded with suspicion, but was welcomed by senior Muslim 'qazi's' or judges who said the row had damaged their community.
Prior to the settlement experts said even if the couple had married Mr Malik was still free to marry Miss Mirza because Islam allows a man to take four wives as long as he is able to meet all their needs.
They also said the wedding registration certificate, known as a "nikahnama" was not valid because it had not been signed by witnesses.
Under Islamic customs, brides keep their wedding nightclothes, often unwashed, and pass them on to their own daughters or daughters-in-law to wear on their own wedding nights.
"We spent intimate nights in the Taj Krishna as well as the Taj Residency [hotels]. According to the custom, the clothes are still with me," Miss Siddiqui said. She told police Mr Malik had later ignored her after she put on weight and that at his request she had had surgery to insert a gastric band to help her slim down. "The surgery has not helped me lose weight," she said.
Miss Siddiqui's mother, Farisa, said yesterday: "My daughter's wish was to gain a divorce without any money. All community leaders have come to him (Shoaib) to do the settlement and he has done it.
"My daughter had to pass through hardships. Finally justice has been done. She is relieved and very happy I wish them (Sania and Shoaib) well."
With inputs from Telegraph.co.uk
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