Sania Mirza says Shoaib Malik and Dhoni are similar

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza lauded former Indian cricketer MS Dhoni for choosing to retire quietly and said she sees many similarities between her husband Shoaib Malik and Dhoni.

The Indian doubles tennis player, speaking to Sportskeeda’s facebook page, said, “I think that if he (Dhoni) wanted to make a celebration out of it (retirement), he would. I think we should give him that. I think he is a big enough star or has achieved enough, be secured enough to say, ‘I am going to walk out a bit quietly and respectfully.’ I think that is what makes him the Captain Cool, that’s what makes him MS Dhoni because he is someone who has achieved so much not only for himself but for the country.”

She further added, “MS Dhoni really reminds me of my husband in terms of personality. It is uncanny how similar they are. They are quiet but funny. On the field, they are very cool. In many ways, Dhoni is like Shoaib.”

Sania Mirza opined that ex-players should be part of the administrative bodies of sports. She said that almost every sport, especially tennis, needs this change to be implemented immediately.

Sania Mirza explained the significance of having current or ex-players in the administration. The 33-year-old pointed out that an individual who has played the game in the past can understand it better than anyone else.

Sania Mirza turned professional in February 2003, and she has achieved enormous success in the last 17 years. The right-handed player attained the 27th rank in the WTA Women's Singles Rankings back in 2007, and a few years later, she became a doubles specialist.

Mirza has won six Grand Slam Championships - three each in the women's doubles and the mixed doubles category. She has inspired many young girls in India to play tennis, but she believes that there is no proper system in place to groom the upcoming players.

Sania Mirza said that the ex-players should have the power to run the game, and gave the following explanation:

"I think the ex-players should get involved because they are the only people who have the experience to say what should and should not happen, what can and can't happen."