Supporting Shoaib but rooting for India against Pakistan: Sania to NDTV

Sania Mirza's husband - Shoaib Malik - may be playing against India in the cricket bi-lateral series beginning from Tuesday. For the tennis star though, her flag would be flying high for the men in blue.

Speaking to NDTV, Sania Mirza said that cricket is all about passionately following your team and that she is no different. "When India and Pakistan are playing either a hockey match or a kabaddi match, we always support our respective countries. It is not as dramatic as everyone thinks it is. I support my husband. Supporting him comes naturally to me just as supporting my country comes naturally," she said. "I have been asked this since people got to know me and Shoaib are together. I mean we are married. It is not child's play. We respect each other and the teams we support.

Pakistan will take on hosts India in a T20 contest in Bangalore on Tuesday. This will be officially mark the resumption of bi-lateral cricketing ties between the two countries since 2007. For Sania, who married Shoaib in April of 2010, it is a great sign and brings back memories. "I remember watching an India vs Pakistan in 2007 at the stadium. Shoaib, who was not my husband then, was the skipper. I remember the match because Sachin Tendulkar hit 97 runs."

Asked if Sachin and Shoaib were batting in two different matches, whom would she follow, Sania said she hoped Sachin's was a Test innings and that so, she could keep coming back to it.

Shoaib however, is not part of Pakistan's ODI squad in the current series.