Malala Yousafzai’s father revealed to her that she has decided not to go on her honeymoon, so she can watch cricket together with her new husband.
Malala (24 years old) shocked the millions by declaring that she was married to Asser Malik (31-year-old Pakistani cricket executive), in a touching ceremony held at her Birmingham home.
Exclusively speaking to MailOnline Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai said that 12 people were not invited to his big day at Birmingham’s Nobel Peace Prize winner’s home.
Malala had two of her siblings, parents in addition to Asser and his husband. Also present were Asser and Asser’s mother, brother, and sister.
For now, the newlyweds will put their honeymoon on hold to see Pakistan play Australia in the semi final of the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Ms. Yousafzai exclaimed: “We are thrilled for Malala, Asser and like many Pakistanis they are also cricket crazy.
“On Thursday, all of us will be watching Pakistan in semi-final, and that includes Malala & Asser even though they just got married. The couple will all be watching the match from their home. We don’t want it to be missed. All of us are praying for victory in Pakistan.
Malala and Asser said that they had not rule out the possibility to travel to Dubai should the team reach the final of the T20 World Cup.
He said that although there are not definite plans, it is possible for Pakistan to reach the final. If so, it would be no surprise if Asser and Malala go to Dubai to see it. The semi-final will be the first to see.
Malala looks into the eyes of her new husband in these stunning photographs from their Nikkah. Asser (and I) tied the knot in order to be life partners,’ Malala wrote.
Malala adjusts the hair, and watches as Asser Makik signs their marriage certificate at their Birmingham wedding
Malala and her new husband Asser Malik pose for a picture on their wedding day with her father Ziauddin Yousafzai and mother Toor Pekai Yousafzai.
His daughter’s ceremony was simple and arranged last-minute. While we did not want to book a large venue for hundreds of guests, it was a good idea. I think that one day we’ll be able to host an even larger event.
“We knew about Malalaa and Asser over a decade, but at the time there was not talk of them marrying. We are so happy for them both.
Asser, the General Manager for High Performance at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), oversees the execution of high-level sporting programmes for Pakistan’s best players and coaches.
Malala, who is passionate about women’s and girls cricket, also heads the push to make Pakistan women’s Cricket more popular.
Malala disclosed last year that she was a cricket player while at Oxford. She also played for the college’s university cricket team. In July, she talked about the sexism she experienced as a child in the sport.
Asser joined the PCB in 2020. Prior to that, Asser was the operations manager at the Multan Sultans. This is a professional cricket team, playing in Pakistan’s T20 competition known as The Pakistan Super League.
His connections to Pakistan’s biggest cricket stars are strong. He was previously the managing director for a player management agency.
You will find many photos on his Instagram of him playing in major international cricket matches, which is a testament to his enthusiasm for the sport.
Asser studied at Aitchison College Lahore where he was a former cricketer. Imran Khan, the country’s prime minister, also attended the college.
Asser has two younger sisters. He comes from wealthy parents who split their time between London, Lahore and London. Asser visits the UK regularly and, according to his Twitter account, is a Newcastle United supporter.
Malala surprised her millions of supporters around the world by getting married in a small, moving ceremony at her Birmingham home.
Now 24, the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize spoke about her joy for the “journey ahead” after she married Asser Malik, Pakistani cricket coach. This was a secret relationship from the rest of the world.
Malala shared some sweet photos from her Nikkah, an Islamic marriage ceremony. She wore a lovely pink bridesmaid outfit.
Asser Malik (left) and Malala are pictured in June 2019, while they watch the England vs Pakistan cricket match at Edgbaston.
Although it isn’t known when Malala and Asser started their relationship, her husband shared this photo from Malala’s birthday in July.
In adorable photos taken outdoors, she is smiling beside her husband. He wore a pink tie and matched the smile. Malala is seen touching her hair in another photo as Asser signed their marriage contract.
Malala captioned her photos: “Today marks an important day in my life. Asser, my husband and I were meant to become partners in life.
“We had a small nikkah celebration at our Birmingham home with our family. We need your prayers. It is a joy to share the journey together.
Malala’s father posted on Twitter that he was overwhelmed with joy and gratefulness for his wife. “Alhamdulillah,” an Arabic expression that means “praise God”, was added.
Malala has previously been ambivalent around marriage, telling a Vogue interviewer in July: ‘I still don’t understand why people have to get married.’
Asser and Malala’s intimate relationship was not revealed to the outside world. The only hint of the blossoming romance came in July when Asser posted a birthday message to his future wife which read ‘Happy Birthday to the most amazing Malala’ alongside a photograph of the couple standing next to each other.
While it’s not clear how long Malala Malik and Mr Malik were together, in June 2019, the couple was pictured watching England play Pakistan at Edgbaston.
Last Man Stands is a Pakistani amateur league that Mr Malik runs. He describes it as an effort to revive grassroots cricket in Pakistan.
He received a degree as an economist from Lahore University of Management Sciences, 2012
His LinkedIn profile also lists 16 months of experience at Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited and 14 months as the managing director for a player management agent.
The couple’s final destination is not yet known. Malala, her husband and their two children have lived in Birmingham for the past four years. Her husband is stationed in Lahore in Pakistan.
In the days leading up to the surprise nuptial, he was apparently preoccupied via Twitter with Pakistan’s cricket progress. The team reached the semi-finals at the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai stated earlier this year that he would let her choose her partner.
The marriage was arranged by her parents.
Malala previously indicated doubts that she would marry. In June she told Vogue: ‘I still don’t understand why people have to get married. You want to live with someone you love, so why must you sign marriage papers? Why can’t you just have a partnership instead?
After campaigning to educate girls, Malala was shot in the head at the tender age of 15. Her legacy has made her a world-famous advocate for women’s rights.
MailOnline interview, nine months back, was an exclusive one-on-one with Mr. Yousafzai.
He stated, “In our community when a girl turns 23, she’s usually married and has very little control over the situation.”
To me, caste or tribe doesn’t matter. The most important thing to me is Malala’s life. Fathers should believe in the education and liberty of their children.
“She is free to pick her own partner.
She has lived in Britain since 2012 when she was wounded in a shooting. Since then, she graduated from Oxford and has rubbed shoulders and started a foundation for girls’ education.
With his wife, Mr Yousafazi and their three children. He was often forced to hide from death threats by the Taliban.
After being shot in 2012 in London, she moved to the UK and graduated from Oxford. She also met some of the most prominent politicians and stars in the world and established a foundation that promotes girls’ education.
Pashtuns are a patriarchal and traditional community in the mountains of Pakistan that arrange marriages for young girls and refuse to educate them.
According to Mr Yousafazi, he said that he had left such matters up to Malala. She is independent. Anybody she’s happy with, I will accept.
“The only thing that I can say to her is that she should choose someone who values her individuality, freedom and beliefs. It would be easier for her to judge that than I, as she is wiser than me.
Malala, who was continuing her school journey despite being defied by the Taliban, was shot in the side head.
She survived miraculously and was taken to Britain to receive medical treatment. From there, she continued her remarkable work. At just 17, Malala was the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 2014.
The Taliban tried to make her feel less feminine and she believed strongly in female equality.
According to Mr Yousafazi, his views are “extremely rare” in Pashtun society. He also admitted that he used to rail against forced marriages while in Pakistan and stressed the importance of education for girls.
Malala, herself, has noted that she was not happy with the birth of her baby girl. However Ziauddin Yousafzai (her father) wanted to make sure that he gave me all the opportunities a boy would.
Malala was shooting in Swat, a mountainous district in which the family lived.
He said that he often had to hide from extremists because of threats to his life.
Malala was educated at Oxford University. She then moved to Harvard, where she continued her studies. Malala founded the Malala Fund together with her father. It is an organization dedicated to educating girls around the globe.
Yet, Mr. Yousafazi stated that while she was overseeing Malala funds’ work, she also home-schooled her mother Toor Pekai at lockdown, where she is currently taking English online classes.
Atal, 17, has asked her to help him with homework. Malala has a brother Kushal (21), who is a student at London’s University.
Mr. Yousafazi stated that Malala had been home schooling, just like so many British residents. He also said, “Malala helped her mother everyday with English class and Atal with his study, whenever he asked.”
She said that she enjoyed the homeschooling experience, which is something not many people can say. Malala is passionate about education. She’s one of my most dedicated and committed students. That’s why she’s an outstanding teacher.