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Cricketer Imad Wasim and his now-estranged wife Sannia Ashfaq publicly announced that they have filed for divorce on Sunday evening in separate posts. The former ODI captain shared the news to Instagram first, followed by Ashfaq’s post two hours later.

While the all-rounder attributed the separation to long-standing, unresolved conflicts, Ashfaq’s statement painted a far more painful picture — one that mentioned the involvement of a “third party” whose desire to marry Wasim she described as the final blow to an already fragile marriage.

“My home has been broken, and my children have been left without their father. I am a mother of three, including a five-month-old infant who has yet to be held by his father,” she wrote in a post that quickly drew public attention.

Describing her attempts to hold the marriage together, Ashfaq said, “Like many marriages, ours had difficulties, yet it continued to exist. I remained committed as a wife and mother and made sincere efforts to preserve our family. What ultimately ended this marriage was the involvement of a third party, whose intention was to marry my husband, became the final to an already struggling union.”

Her statement came hours after Wasim announced the divorce on Instagram, requesting privacy and asking the public to stop referring to Ashfaq as his spouse.

“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce. I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos. Please also refrain from referring to her as my spouse going forward,” the 37-year-old cricketer wrote.

He cautioned against what he termed “misleading narratives”, stating that he would pursue legal action against any attempts at defamation. To address future speculation surrounding their children, he added, “Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly.”

In her post, Ashfaq maintained that the matter remains legally contested, asserting with conviction that the “truth will emerge through proper channels”.

Mentioning the unnamed “third party”, she said, “Following this, I endured emotional torment, mistreatment, abortion and abandonment while pregnant and vulnerable, choosing patience for the sake of my children and the dignity of my home.“  

She also claimed to have evidence to back up her allegations. “Also, it is crucial to mention that there is documented evidence available for each and every culprit in this matter but I’m being threatened to not post publicly. For every individual who attempts to threaten me shall be dealt with by the law.”

Framing her decision to speak out as larger than her own circumstances, Ashfaq said she was doing so not out of spite, but principle. “I speak today not out of vengeance, but out of truth for myself, for my children, and for every woman who was told to endure in silence.”

Wasim married London-based Ashfaq in August 2019 in a ceremony held in Islamabad. The couple first met in London and had known each other for some time before deciding to make their relationship official.