Veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra played his last international game when the Men in Blue played the first T20I of 3-match series against New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. He had been off the field many times struggling with injuries in the past.

After the match, which India won by 53 runs, Nehra received a grand farewell not only from his teammates but cricketers worldwide. Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar kept the rivalry between India and Pakistan aside to pay tribute to veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra who bid adieu to cricket.

Nehra, who called times of his 19-year-long career, was branded by Akhtar as one of the nicest and honest fast bowlers in the game and also said that it was a pleasure playing against him for the Rawalpindi Express.

Taking to Twitter, Shoaib Akhtar wrote, “1 of the nicest guy & honest fast bowler has retired from INTL cricket. A Nehra it was pleasure playing against u #Cheers fella#”

1 of the nicest guy & honest fast bowler has retired from INTL cricket .A Nehra it was pleasure playing against u #Cheers fella#

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 2, 2017

One of the celebrated cricketers in India, Nehra appeared in 17 Tests, 120 One-day Internationals (ODIs) and 27 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) taking 44, 157 and 34 wickets respectively. The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), in a tribute to Nehra, named one of the playing ends at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium after the veteran seamer.

Nehra became only the second bowler in international cricket, after England paceman James Anderson, to bowl from his own end. Apart from Akhtar, Nehra’s teammate Yuvraj Singh in a Facebook post also addressed him as an honest man.

The left-arm bowler, who played his first game at Feroz Shah Kotla in 1997, in a post-match conversation with former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, said that even though he will miss playing cricket, his body will be at peace. “I will miss all this. That’s what you train for. One thing which will definitely be at peace will be my body. I said earlier that I can go a couple more years, but there can’t be a better time to walk away.”

Asked about his future plans, Nehra said he is yet to take a call on whether to go for coaching or commentary roles.

Check Out how Twitterati reacted to Akhtar’s Tweet:

Nice to show respect

— Mudassir Tariq (@MudassirTariq87) November 3, 2017

True sportsmanship, one legend praising another.

Honestly, we followed your bowling too equally.

— Ramurthi Naidu (@Raamurthi) November 3, 2017

Yes exactly No doubt #Nehra was really a great bowler in the history of Indian cricket!

— Ali Hassan (@AliHass96442180) November 2, 2017

How heartwarming is it to see players appreciating others crossing each and every border…may this world progress to a peaceful place..

— Rahul Sharma (@RahulSh52981212) November 2, 2017

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