Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had a pleasant surprise when he bumped into former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar at Dubai Airport recently. Notably, the senior politician was returning to Delhi after attending a Literature Festival in England, when he ran into the Pakistan fast bowler.
Mr. Tharoor was all praises for the 47-year-old fast bowler, calling him a ”smart and engaging man” with plenty of fans in India. He also mentioned that during their chance encounter, the duo had conversations about India, Pakistan & cricket. Further, he revealed that many Indians who came to greet him at the airport wanted selfies with the Pakistani cricketer too.
In a tweet, Mr. Tharoor wrote, ”On my way back to Delhi via Dubai, was pleasantly surprised when @shoaib100mph said hello. What a smart & engaging young man the tearaway fast bowler is! He has plenty of fans on our side of the border: all the Indians who came up to greet me wanted selfies with him too. Had a good conversation about (inevitably) India, Pakistan & cricket.” He also shared a selfie with him.
See the picture here:
On my way back to Delhi via Dubai, was pleasantly surprised when @shoaib100mph said hello. What a smart & engaging young man the tearaway fast bowler is! He has plenty of fans on our side of the border: all the Indians who came up to greet me wanted selfies with him too. Had a… pic.twitter.com/4WZl8V1rbN
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 26, 2023
Mr Akhtar also quote-tweeted the picture and wrote, ”What a pleasure running into you Shashi ji.”
What a pleasure running into you Shashi ji. https://t.co/odekytRrDm
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 27, 2023
Twitter users loved the picture and shared a variety of comments. One user wrote, ”Both of you look awesome.”
Another commented, ”It makes me sentimental. I wish India was undivided!”
A third added, ”Best bowler. Best action. Best runner up. Best body. Best hair style. .. iconic personality.” A fourth remarked that they have similar hairstyles while another wrote, ”U both look like brothers.”