HYDERABAD (India), April 3 Unfazed by threats of legal action from the family of Ayesha Siddiqui who claims to have married him, Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik on Saturday made a surprise visit to Sania Mirza's house here amid reports that their marriage may be shifted to Dubai.

Clad in a trouser and T-shirt, Malik, 28, who is slated to marry Sania on April 15, appeared on the balcony of the tennis star's house and was seen talking on his mobile phone while Sania and her mother were involved in an animated discussion with each other. At times, the talk between the mother and daughter appeared to be tense and heated.

The sporting marriage between Malik and Sania comes two months after Sania broke off her engagement to a childhood friend.

Malik's brother-in-law Imran Malik said the pair would wed on April 11.

Sania has backed Malik in the controversy.

Although not mentioning Malik directly, Sania's latest Twitter message clearly supported him, who has been blamed of cheating Ayesha.

Sania wrote “Me and my family know what the truth is, we've known it all along and we have confidence in God's justice.”

Sania is all set for the 'special day' of her life, she said, adding that she never thought she would have to deal with so many things apart from her wedding preparation.

“Too much going on, never in my life thought that I'd had to worry about anything of his sort, rather than my mehendi. Leaves me with no choice but to laugh. I am pretty sure these are not the pre-wedding jitters or butterflies in the stomach my married cousins were talking about!” she said.

Malik's visit to Hyderabad assumes significance in the context of a late night threat by Ayesha's parents that they would file an FIR against him if he went ahead with the marriage without divorcing their daughter.

Malik's family has hired criminal lawyer Ramesh Gupta from Delhi, who has been handling their battle with Ayesha's family for the past two years.

There was no indication about the sudden visit of Malik but it comes amid reports in the Pakistani media that the venue of the marriage could be shifted to Dubai to avoid any problems from Ayesha's family. There was no confirmation of the reports as yet.

A Pakistan TV channel quoted sources in Malik's family that the marriage has been shifted to Dubai because his family is not keen on coming to India.

The channel reported Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's threat has scared them and the Ayesha issue is also a factor.

Thackeray had lambasted 23-year-old Sania for choosing a Pakistani as her life partner, saying she would not remain an Indian post her marriage. “She [Sania] will become a Pakistani citizen after the marriage and there is no way she can play for India,” Thackeray said.

However, Sania has said she will continue playing for India after her wedding. “India is my country and it will always remain so.”

Meanwhile, reports said Ayesha who claims to be Malik's wife has demanded he divorce her before he weds Sania.

Ayesha said Malik married her by telephone in 2002 and that she possesses documents to prove their alliance.

She has threatened to sue Malik if he refuses to “for- mally divorce” her before marrying Sania, The Times of India reported. TV stations carried similar reports.

She also circulated copies of her Muslim nuptial agreement to media outlets in India and Pakistan and spoken about the alleged relationship with Malik, the newspaper reported.

“Malik can marry Sania only after divorcing me,” Ayesha said. “He dumped me because his team-mates said I was fat. I need an official divorce now.”

The cricketer has denied the marriage and says he will file a defamation suit.

Malik, who was reportedly playing in a Twenty20 league in Bangladesh, has added to the whole drama surrounding the much-anticipated wedding by landing in Hyderabad much ahead of schedule. The exact reasons for his visit to Sania's residence are not known.—Agencies