India recently witnessed a major setback, after the sad demise of the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. While the world mourns the death of Lataji’s demise, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar joined the list of celebrities who have paid tribute to the late singer.
In a video posted by Shoaib on his official YouTube account, the cricketer recalled speaking to the late singer during his visit to India in 2016.
Speaking in Urdu, the former Pakistani fast bowler expressed his sadness at Lata's death and said, "In 2016, when I was working in India, I had the honour of speaking to her over the phone. I greeted her and she responded in her melodious voice." The cricketer said when he addressed her as Lata ji, the singer insisted he calls her maa (mother). "I addressed her as maa ji from there on," Shoaib said in the video.
Interestingly, the ace singer was a huge cricket fan and loved following the Indian cricket team's games. She had even performed a fundraising concert for the team after it won the 1983 World Cup.
Shoaib recalled how the legendary singer opened up about this love for cricket in their conversation. He said, "She told me that she had watched my matches and my battles with Sachin (Tendulkar). She told me she found me aggressive on the pitch. She said my temper was famous."
Shoaib said that after discussing cricket, Urdu, and Pakistani musicians like Ghulam Ali and Noor Jehan, the two even planned to meet. Shoaib said, "I told her I wanted to meet her. I don't want to miss this opportunity. She told me she was fasting for navaratri (Hindu festival) then and asked me to come over to her place once her fasts were over."
However, that meeting never came to be. He continued, "I really thought I'd meet her. She gave me her blessings. But then it was time to say goodbye. Unfortunately, we never spoke again. After that, the relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated and I never could return. I never met her, which is something I regret."
The veteran singer died of multiple organ failure on Sunday morning after a brief battle with Covid-19 and pneumonia. She was 92. Lata was cremated in Mumbai's Shivaji Park with full state honours.
Image Source: Instagram/ViralBhayani/