Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza pose for a photo during an event. File

After Pakistan former cricket captain Shoaib Malik revealed that he has entered into a third marriage with popular Pakistani actress Sana Javed, Sania Mirza's father, Imran Mirza, has announced that the tennis star took a 'khula,' signifying the right of a Muslim woman to unilaterally divorce her husband, from Shoaib.

After Shoaib's wedding photos came out on Saturday, Sania Mirza’s father Imran, openly confirmed the separation stating the it occurred through the process of ‘Khula.’

Sania almost confirmed the divorce rumours with her cryptic post on Instagram recently, which read, ‘Marriage is hard, Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely. When something disturbs the peace of your heart. Let it go.” Sania shared the post on her Instagram account on Jan.8.

Shoaib Malik, who had previously tied the knot with Sania Mirza in April 2010, shared a photograph with his new wife on social media along with the words "And We created you in pairs." The cricketer's five-year-old son, Izaan, from his previous marriage, resides with Sania Mirza.

Speculations about troubles in Shoaib and Sania relationship had been circulating since 2022, and the couple had been rarely seen together in recent years. Malik's recent decision to unfollow Sania Mirza on Instagram added fuel to the ongoing rumours.

Shoaib Malik's new chapter involves a union with Sana Javed, a renowned actress who had previously married singer Umair Jaiswal in 2020. However, just two months prior, reports emerged about Sana Javed and Umair Jaiswal's divorce.