Former Pakistan ODI skipper said that his wife and tennis star Sania Mirza inspires him on the cricket field and also puts pressure on him.
Sania Mirza won her women’s doubles title with Martina Hingis last week in US Open, which marks their second grand slam of the year post-Wimbledon glory.
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.
“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, 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.
Malik is part of Pakistan’s Twenty20 and one-day squad for the tour starting 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”.