Shortly after Navjot Singh Sidhu parried criticism of his visit to Islamabad for the oath ceremony of fellow cricket veteran-turned-politician Imran Khan as the new Pakistan prime minister, a statement of thanks and support came from across the border.
Wading into the political row in India, Imran Khan posted tweets describing Mr Sidhu as an "ambassador or peace" and commented: "Those in India who targeted him are doing a great disservice to peace in the subcontinent."