Jemima Goldsmith, Saba Qamar and other celebrities pay tribute to 'cricketing legend' Shane Warne
Friday was a sad day for the cricket world as it lost one of the greatest leg spinners of all time — Shane Warne. The bowler died of a suspected heart attack on a holiday in Koi Samui, Thailand. The 52-year-old's death shocked not only cricketers around the world but many who grew up watching him play. This includes celebrities, both those who had met him and many others who had just seen him on the cricket pitch.
Actor Adnan Siddiqui shared the news on Twitter and described Warne as a "magician, a trickster who did wonders with the ball across pitches".
Jemima Goldsmith also remembered the cricketer and said that he was a "giant-hearted friend".
RJ and TV show host Anoushey Ashraf wrote that she's "heartbroken" and that a big part of her childhood memories are connected to Warne. "Life is so unpredictable. Forever in our hearts. Rip. It feels like sportsmen belong to no country but to ppl around the world. The loss is ours," she said.
Actor Saba Qamar also tweeted and wrote, "My thoughts are with the family & friends of the cricketing legend."
Comedian-cum-actor Arsalan Naseer called Warne "the greatest leg spinner of the game."
Actor Bilal Ashraf shared a photo of the cricketer and wrote that his death was "a huge loss".
Actors Ahmed Ali Butt and Asad Siddiqui took to Instagram and wrote that Warne's sudden demise is "sad news" and that "the legend is gone".
Bollywood actors also shared some memories with the cricketer and penned a few words for him. Preity Zinta who had met him during the Indian Premier League (IPL) tweeted, "So sad to hear that Shane Warne is no more. He was a magician on the field & such a charismatic & flamboyant personality off the field." The Kal Ho Naa Ho actor also credited late cricketer for teaching her a lot about cricket during the IPL. "He was an inspiration to so many all over the world."
Film producer Boney Kapoor tweeted that "the World has lost a rare gem of cricket who spun a web around the best of batsmen" and remembered the way he bowled former English cricketer Mike Gatting.
"This news has left millions like me in shock & disbelief. May you rest in peace King Of Spin," wrote Anil Kapoor on Twitter.
Akshay Kumar also shared the sad news and wrote, "You could not have loved the game of cricket without being in complete awe of the man. This is so heartbreaking."
Actor Shilpa Shetty took to Instagram and shared her own photos with Warne and wrote, "Legends live on."
The late cricketer will receive a state funeral as announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott on Saturday.
A minute's silence was also observed during the Pakistan versus Australia Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday. The Australian and Pakistan teams paid tribute to the legendary spinner and the players wore black armbands to pay homage to him.