Pakistani all-rounder, Shoaib Malik said on Thursday that his Indian tennis star wife Sania Mirza was responsible for the positive turnaround in his cricketing career. He said Sania’s hard work, dedication and success as a professional athlete had driven him to lift his game and make a successful comeback.
“At times you are not able to talk and share your thoughts or feelings with someone in the team and I am lucky to have Sania. She gives me that required cushion where I can discuss things with her at a sportsman’s level and get good advice,” Malik was quoted by PTI as saying.
Malik added that Sania acted as a comfort zone for him particularly on long tours and even when he needed to discuss cricket issues with someone.
He said, “I know how hard she has worked for her success and it has also driven me to do the same in cricket. That is why I was able to make a successful comeback to the Pakistan team which makes me very happy now.”
Malik said that he was incredibly proud of Sania for her success in tennis as it was an individual sport adding that he felt the pressure to improve his game when his wife was present in the stadium.
Speaking about his future ambitions from the game, Malik said he wanted to reach among the top all-rounders in the world.
He said, ‘”I want to be a top all-rounder and that is my goal. I know I have made mistakes in the past and I regret that now. But it has also made me a more mature and calm person and athlete.”
