Sania Mirza got a warm welcome when she reached the city yesterday with Malik and shortly speaking to the media, she said that "She hoped bilateral cricket relations with India would resume soon.

Sania, who got married to Malik last year in April in a wedding that took the subcontinent by storm, has been in Pakistan for the last few days visiting her in-laws in Malik's hometown of Sialkot besides travelling to Lahore on a private visit.

Sources said Malik arranged for a special permission for his wife to be in Karachi for the duration of the tournament in which he is captaining the Sialkot Stallions.

"I am here to play cricket and my wife is with me on a holiday but obviously her presence is good for me and I hope to do well in the national tournament," he said.