Sania unlucky to cop unnecessary criticism: Akhtar

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has come to the defense of Sania Mirza, saying the Indian tennis star is unlucky to find herself in the firing line of fans every time arch-rivals India and Pakistan play an international match.

Sania is married to former skipper Shoaib Malik, who is currently a part of Pakistan's cricket team which is competing in the ongoing World Cup in England.

"She is so unlucky that whatever she does she gets unnecessary criticism from either Pakistan or India and that too for no rhyme or reason. If Pakistan loses a match she is targeted because her husband plays for Pakistan," Akhtar said on his Youtube channel.

Several fans had targeted Sania in social media after video and pictures of her enjoying a late dinner with her husband Shoaib along with Wahab Riaz and Imam-ul-Haq went viral.

Pakistan team had suffered their seventh defeat to India in the World Cup, going down this time by 89 runs in a rain-hit match last Sunday.

"If she has gone to be with her husband and ..