Pakistan queues up on Twitter to praise Rahul Dravid the gentleman

Photo: Twitter / @MHafeez22

New Delhi: A chance meeting between batting legend Rahul Dravid and Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez on a flight to New Zealand showed how much respect the Indian commands not just from the current and former cricketers but also from his fans across the border. 

Hafeez, who was travelling with the Pakistan team for a limited-overs series against the Kiwis, clicked a selfie with Dravid and posted it on Twitter, and the response it received was heartwarming.  

Dravid is travelling to New Zealand as coach of India's under-19 squad for the ICC U-19 World Cup. 

"Met with a man called THE WALL in cricket RAHUL bhai @Im_Dravid he is a great human being always there to talk about cricket & helping u out , honoured to play with him in the Feild & always pleasure to meet U , stay blessed," Hafeez tweeted.

Met with a man called THE WALL in cricket RAHUL bhai @Im_Dravid he is a great human being always there to talk about cricket & helping u out , honoured to play with him in the Feild & always pleasure to meet U , stay blessed pic.twitter.com/vCyDwM34YY — Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) December 28, 2017

The replies that followed were in awe of India's former captain.

Dravid is a great cricketer but also a great person. Humble man — Rasheed shakoor (@rasheedshakoor) December 29, 2017

Such a fabulous player and a great human being.... @AzharAli_ should learn something from him. — khan sb (@kaab001) December 29, 2017

One of the greatest batsman cricket ever have — Farrukh Shameer (@shooby367) December 29, 2017

Absolute legend of the game, not many bowlers could get through his impeccable defence. — Mo Hussain (@Mohamme33006405) December 29, 2017

One is Professor quite a nice person from Sargodha Punjab....
And another the most kind and greatest Gentleman from Bangalore Respect for both of you .....Really biggest fan of yours... — Asif Ahmad (@Engr_asifmir) December 29, 2017

Rahul is a true gentleman of cricket. Great character

— Faheem Tareen (@jeans19) December 29, 2017

What a player he was. Miss the legend. — Atif Subhani (@AtifSubhani) December 29, 2017

Ye as a Pakistani he was my favorite Indian batmens his wicket was more important then any other player such a soild player he was

— Y A S I R (@Yasirhere) December 29, 2017

Dravid has now been in charge as coach of India's A and age-group teams for more than two years and hopes that players from the current u-19 group graduate to India A team soon.

"The World Cup is an exciting challenge and provides a good opportunity for all these guys. There is a process now in place in Indian cricket - U-19 cricket to first-class cricket and then to India A and then the India national team, when the opportunity arrives," Dravid said at the press conference before the departure of India's U-19 team to New Zealand.