'Feared I would never get an Indian Visa' - Shoaib Akhtar reflects on a failed prank with Sachin Tendulkar

The bilateral series between India and Pakistan takes place no more due to the political tensions between the two neighbouring nations. The last time Pakistan toured India was back in 2007 and played five ODIs and three Tests. Talking of the same tour, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has come up with a hilarious memory from the trip which he shared with Sachin Tendulkar.

During an awards function show from the same trip, Akhtar decided to have some fun with Tendulkar. He tried to lift him up but couldn’t balance properly and Tendulkar fell on the ground. Akhtar admitted to being utterly scared after the incident as he thought he would never get an Indian Visa from now on. Reflecting back on the incident, Akhtar provided some insights from the same event.

The former Pakistan great also added that if there is one country where he has received immense love after Pakistan, it is India only. However, after failing to balance Tendulkar in the event, he felt like Indians would burn him alive. Akhtar told that though they were arch-rivals, he had a great friendship with Sachin Tendulkar off the field and spent a good time with him.

I managed to lift him but then he slipped from my hands: Shoaib Akhtar

“After Pakistan, if there is one country where I have received a lot of love, it is India. I have a lot of good memories from my visits to India. During the 2007 tour, there was an awards function. So obviously, there was a get-together after the function. As usual, I wanted to do something different. So I tried to lift Sachin Tendulkar, just for fun.

“I managed to lift him but then he slipped from my hands. Tendulkar fell down, not that badly, but I thought to myself that ‘I am dead’. I feared that if Sachin Tendulkar gets unfit or injured, I would never get an Indian Visa. The Indians would never allow me to come back to the country or would burn me alive,” said Akhtar while being in a chat with Sportskeeda.