Mumbai, Apr 23: Pakistan`s fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, in India for the shoot of a commercial, on Thursday (April 22) met with children suffering from cancer in western Mumbai city.
He interacted with the children, answered to their queries about his bowling and the cricket.

Later he also played with the children.

Akhtar said he was feeling much relaxed in India following thaw in relations between the two countries.

"After a long time I am feeling so nice, when we came in 1998, there was so much tension, we could not travel here or there, we could not visit Mumbai. The kind of warm welcome the Indians received from our country, our people, that we extend to all. Being Muslim, we believe in humanity. Whether you are Hindu or Muslim, Buddhist, black or white, we do not discriminate. I don`t feel any Indian cricketer would have wanted to leave Lahore," said Akhtar.

Pakistan lost the recent three-match series to India 2-1, losing the third and final Test by an innings and 131 runs. The defeat gave India its first ever test series win in Pakistan and their first overseas since 1994.

Pakistan had also lost the five-match one-day series 3-2 after leading 2-1 at one stage.

This was India`s first full-fledged tour to Pakistan in 14 years.

Bureau Report