Watch pics of how Sania, Shoaib Malik fell in love, tied the knot

New Delhi: Its wasn't just a marriage between two high profile sportspersons, belonging to two neighboring countries where tension and passion run high when it comes to politics or cricket match, but kind of a scoop that caught people of these two countries totally unaware.A day after shocking almost everyone, except family, by announcing that they will tie the knot , speculation continued as to where exactly the romance began and where did love blossom between Indian tennis queen Sania Mirza and dashing Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik. No one had a clue about it but according to sources the two first met in Australia in January where Sania had just crashed out of the Australian Open and Pakistan had suffered yet another embarrassing defeat at the hands of Ricky Ponting led Australia.Sania was still coming in terms with her life after her break up with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza. The break up was stunning because their lavish engagement just six months earlier was still fresh in everyone's mind. Though neither Sania nor her family gave the exact reasons for the split but speculation was rife that the 26-year-old Hyderabadi's meeting with Shoaib may have contributed to the break up. Shoaib too had been luckless in love before meeting Sania and that incidentally also had a Hyderabad connection. The all-rounder was accused of marrying and dumping one Ayesha Siddiqui but Shoaib denied that, insisting that he was merely engaged to the said girl. Well the controversies seemed to be chasing these two with Shoaib, a former captain of the Pakistan team, serving a one-year ban for indiscipline on the Australia tour and Sania battling a wrist injury besides warding off queries about just why she ended her engagement with Sohrab. Ironically, the two were getting married at a time when India-Pakistan diplomatic ties had frozen following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Marriage casts a shadow over Sania's career but given the support Shoaib promised, the Hyderabadi seemed set to continue her on-court life as well. "I fully understand what it takes to be an international sports person and I will support Sania in her career as long as she wishes to play. Representing India at the 2012 Olympics is very important for her and I will be the proudest husband if she can win a medal for her country," said Shoaib. Sania, who has lived in media glare ever since rising to stardom as an 18-year-old after moderate success on the WTA circuit, has pleaded for privacy. "My wedding is inshallah going to be the biggest day of my life. I have been in the constant glare for too long and would appreciate the privacy at this very personal moment in my life," she said before her marriage.Watch pics.