‘We found so much love,’ Virender Sehwag lauds Pakistan’s hospitality

Legendary Indian opening batter Virender Sehwag recalled his tour to Pakistan back in 2003-04 and the hospitality he received from the locals.

India visited Pakistan in 2003 for a full-fledge ODI and Test tour amid which the two arch-rivals locked horns in a five-match white-ball and a three-match red-ball series.

The touring side dominated Pakistan in both formats as they sealed the ODI series 3-2 and Test series 2-1.

Virender Sehwag, who was also a part of the Indian contingent, recalled his side’s successful tour of Pakistan for the hospitality, he received during his time in the country during an interview on a YouTube channel

“When we toured Pakistan back in 2003-04, we found so much love from the Pakistani people,” he shared.

“Before the second Test in Lahore, we went for shopping. I bought some 30-35 Pakistani suits for my family at a local market. The shopkeeper refused to take money from me, saying I am the guest, and how he can take money from a guest. We received such love everywhere in Pakistan,” added Virender Sehwag.

During the same interview, Virender Sehwag also heaped praise on former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and termed him Asia’s best middle-order batter.

“Inzi Bhai was so sweet. Everyone talks about Tendulkar but I believe that Inzamam was the biggest middle-order batter in Asia,” he stated.

Virender Sehwag continued to laud Inzamam-ul-Haq by mentioning his ability to remain composed in tense run chases where his team needed around eight runs per over.

“Tendulkar was out of batters’ league, he was above it. But, Inzamam was best in middle-order. I am talking about 2003-04 when an average of around eight was just an imagination. Teams used to panic in such situations but Inzamam at that time used to stay calm while scoring runs at an average of around eight,” he added.

READ: Batters-led Fujairah thump Abu Dhabi to win Emirates D10 League title