Ex-cricketers from neighboring countries, India and Pakistan have often shared tales of a strong friendship between players from both nations. While fans don't get to watch too many India vs Pakistan matches these days, it wasn't the case when Vinod Kambli used to play for India.
Former India batsman Kambli, who made his debut in 1991, talked about the bond with Pakistan players in the 90s. He said the hospitality of Indian players in Pakistan was very warm.
“We were treated very well when we went to Pakistan. In fact, I have a fan, who was following my career since I made my debut in ‘91. He was from Karachi. And he used to send me letters [because] that time when there were no mobiles, no phone calls so he used to express himself through letters,” Kambli said on The Greatest Rivalry podcast.
“And you won’t believe who used to bring those letters for me – Rashid Latif. He (the fan) used to go to Rashid Latif and gave all his letters to him and Rashid, whenever they used to come here, then I got it. So the fan following in Pakistan also, it’s still there. When I was playing and after I retired also, the fan following was there.”
Kambli admitted the players loved to hang out with each other even though the rivalry on the field was fierce.
“Playing against Pakistan, on the field, we had the rivalry, but off the field, they are all my friends, Waqar [Younis], Wasim [Akram], and the rest of them, we had that kind of friendship which we still cherish. When we used to play, we gave our hearts out, we used to give our best,” Kambli said.
“But off the field, you can ask Waqar, I used to mix around with him, used to be with him. Wasim bhai, all of them were friends. We maintained that friendship since my debut. I still remember we played their Independence Cup, after we finished playing ours, we went there and that was my first time in Pakistan.”
