Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik on Thursday said his tennis player Indian wife Sania Mirza’s success in the US Open has inspired him on the cricket field — but has also put him under pressure.

Mirza won the women’s doubles title in the US Open last week with Swiss partner Martina Hingis, the pair’s second Grand Slam doubles title together following their triumph in Wimbledon. In April this year, Mirza became the first Indian woman to attain the world number one ranking in doubles, alongside former Grand slam singles champion Hingis.

Malik, who married Mirza in a high-profile wedding in 2010, said his wife’s win was both an inspiration as well as extra pressure ahead of Pakistan’s Zimbabwe tour. “Her win in the US Open inspires me to do well on the tour of Zimbabwe,” Malik told reporters. “It also adds slight pressure to do well in cricket.”

Malik is part of Pakistan’s Twenty20 and one-day squad for the tour starting on September 27. Pakistan will play two Twenty20 matches, on September 27 and 29, and three one-day internationals, on October 1, 3 and 5.
Malik said Zimbabwe would be tough to beat despite many people believing the “Zimbabwe series will be easy”, adding Pakistan’s opponents “will be competitive”.

Courtesy: HINDUSTAN TIMES