Sania Mirza & Shoaib Malik

Birmingham: Sania Mirza, effervescent as ever, is delighted with India’s performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy.

“I’m very happy for Team India... To come up with such a stellar show just weeks after cricket in India got such bad publicity is great...

“So much has been going around, but our cricketers have stayed focused... I’m delighted we’re in the semi-final,” Sania told The Telegraph.

In a brief interaction at the Hyatt on Thursday afternoon, she added: “Controversies don’t do sport any good and it hurts us sportspersons when there’s talk of fixing...

“However, natural justice demands that those who stand accused are treated as innocent till proved otherwise.”

Sania has been travelling with husband Shoaib Malik, a former Pakistan captain, but may not watch Saturday’s Indo-Pak match at Edgbaston.

“I’ve got to leave for the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Eastbourne (from Monday),” she said.

Not that Sania has actually been a lucky mascot, so to say. Shoaib scored a duck against the West Indies and managed eight versus South Africa.

Having lost both matches, Pakistan are out of the Champions Trophy.

Sania, incidentally, has priorities clear. “Look, I always want India to win... That’s the team I support in matches against Pakistan. But, sure, I’d like my husband to do very well. That’s on an individual level.”

For her, then, there’s no conflict of interest.