Sania Mirza Will Cheer for India, Says Husband and Pakistan Star Shoaib Malik

She may be married to a Pakistani superstar cricketer, but tennis queen Sania Mirza will continue to cheer for India in Saturday's Asia Cup match in Mirpur, Bangladesh. (Catch India vs Pakistan Live Action Here)

Ever since Sania married Shoaib in April 2010, there have been questions on her loyalties, but Sania, who dreams of an Olympic medal for India in Rio, remains steadfast in her love and passion for the tri-colour.

"We maintain the same status. She (Sania) supports Team India and wants her husband to do well, perform well in the middle if he is playing," said Malik ahead of Saturday's blockbuster. Malik, is one of the four players in the Pakistan team that played against India in a World T20 game in Dhaka in March 2014. (Key Battles)

The couple met in Australia while Malik was on a cricket tour and Sania was playing a tournament.

"Before we started dating she used to love cricket. Even today she loves cricket. That is the game she watches. Obviously being Indian, cricket is your first passion whether you are male or female. She watches cricket all the time," Malik told The Telegraph, UK. (India Must Not Take Pakistan Lightly, Says Gavaskar)

Thirty-three-year-old Malik, who has quit Test cricket, has often admitted that Sania has been a huge influence in his professional life.

"When I was out of the team I used to travel with her to tennis events because I had lot of free time and she used to say the same thing 'keep working hard and when you get the opportunity take it'.

"She encouraged me to keep playing and to still think I had plenty of cricket left in me. That is what I did. When you are look at her and how well she is doing you get inspired and you want to do well as well as her." (History Favours India)

Malik said emotions will run high in both countries.

"People from both countries enjoy this encounter and they want their team to win. The cricketers are the same, they give their best and enjoy the contest a lot," Malik said in Dhaka.

As professional sportspersons, Sania and Shoaib barely have time to spend together but the world No. 1 doubles tennis champion remains the ex-Pakistan captain's biggest inspiration.

In July 2015, after winning her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon with Martina Hingis, Sania flew to Colombo to cheer for Malik during the third ODI against Sri Lanka.

Malik said Pakistan could give India a tough fight even with the momentum on MS Dhoni's side.

"Indian batsmen are very consistent but we have a good bowling attack," said Malik. "This is going to be a great game. This is going to be a big opportunity for players of both the teams." (Virat Kohli Asserts His Dominance)

"Coming after playing the PSL straightaway, our preparation has been very good," he said. "There's no doubt India have performed very well in Australia and even versus Bangladesh, I think it will be a great battle between two good teams."