Ex-Indian cricketer, Virender Sehwag, has expressed his appreciation for the Pakistani people’s warmth and kindness during their visits, saying that he was moved to tears by the love he received in Pakistan.
2003 after a 17-year hiatus, India took on an ODI and Test cricket tour to Pakistan, sparking a competitive yet exciting five-match ODI series and a three-match Test series with their longstanding rivals. The visiting Indian team demonstrated their prowess, securing wins in both the ODI and Test series.
Recalling an instance from the 2004 tour, during a recent interview, the explosive opening batsman said, “When we toured Pakistan, our second Test was in Lahore. I bought about 30 to 35 suits for my female relatives. When I went to pay the shopkeeper, he refused to accept money, saying, ‘You are our guest; how can we charge you?’.
Sehwag further recounted that throughout their tour in 2003-2004, the first in 17 years, they were showered with immense love everywhere they went in Pakistan. The local people were curious about their hometown in India and, upon knowing they were from Delhi, would share memories of relatives who once lived there, often asking about specific streets or landmarks.
Sehwag revealed that listening to these personal narratives would tug at their heartstrings and often move them to tears. “It was a poignant experience, but also a joyful one, as it felt like we were long lost siblings reunited,” he concluded.
