Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik found himself at the centre of social media criticism after sharing a photo of a lunch outing with his son Izhaan Mirza Malik.

The picture, showing Malik and his son seated at a restaurant in Dubai, was captioned “Lunch with my best friend,” and intended as a heartfelt moment between father and son. However, it instead triggered a wave of public reaction, with many questioning the nature of Malik’s responsibilities as a father.

Malik, who shares Izhaan with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, parted ways with her in 2023 after a 13-year marriage. The couple, widely regarded as one of South Asia’s most high-profile sports unions, had tied the knot in 2010 amid considerable media attention and fanfare. Their son was born in 2018.

Despite efforts to keep the separation private, the news eventually surfaced, and just months later, Malik announced his marriage to Pakistani actress Sana Javed in January 2024 — a development that surprised both fans and media alike.

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A post shared by Shoaib Malik (@realshoaibmalik)

While Malik and Sana Javed have often faced trolling since their marriage, both have continued to share glimpses of their life together, seemingly unaffected by public commentary. However, it was Malik’s recent attempt to publicly express affection for his son that reignited criticism.

One Instagram user commented, “When parents get divorced, the child becomes the cat of both houses. In the first five years of marriage, couples should focus on understanding each other before having children.”

Another netizen criticised Malik for what they viewed as symbolic parenting, writing, “Sometimes taking a child to lunch or dinner doesn’t make friends; it only increases the emotional distance.”

A particularly pointed remark stated, “Take responsibility for your best friend too. This isn’t just a mother’s responsibility — you cannot fulfil your duties as a father by simply taking him out for one meal.”

Some users lamented the breakdown of what was seen as a cross-border symbol of unity and mutual respect. “This divorce should not have happened,” read one comment. “Sania Mirza was a better partner — both were educated and intelligent. With mutual understanding, this could have been resolved.”

This is not the first time Shoaib Malik’s personal life has come under scrutiny. In 2010, ahead of his marriage to Sania Mirza, Malik was embroiled in a controversy surrounding an earlier marriage to Hyderabad-based Indian woman Ayesha Siddiqui. While Malik initially denied the marriage, it was later confirmed and dissolved before he wed Mirza.