Australian opener David Warner plans to attend the state funeral of his childhood idol Shane Warne later this month, however he says it is going to take time to get used to the legendary bowler’s passing. Warne died following a coronary heart assault whereas holidaying in Thailand final week, and his dying has shaken the Australian crew, who’re at present touring Pakistan. “It nonetheless hasn’t actually sunk in,” stated Warner forward of the second Take a look at beginning in Karachi from Saturday.
“Once we first discovered, we thought it was a joke.”
Warner stated he’ll head residence after the third Take a look at, in Lahore beginning March 25, as he was not a part of the following restricted overs sequence.
Warne’s state funeral is scheduled for March 30, and Warner stated: “I can be there, 100 per cent.”
“It is undoubtedly going to be extraordinarily emotional for everybody. There can be a number of individuals paying their respects,” he stated.
“You simply take a look at the tributes from world wide — he has touched hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of individuals, and from completely different international locations.”
Warner stated he grew up idolising Warne.
“As a child, I had his poster up on the wall. I needed to be like Shane.”
Nonetheless, Warner has attracted followers of his personal in Pakistan, the place Australia are touring for the primary time since 1998, having declined to go to beforehand on safety grounds.
The nuggety opening batsman has amused the group by exhibiting off his dance strikes to music performed between overs or accompanying the spectators of their chants.
“We’re entertainers as properly,” stated Warner.
“If I am not taking part in within the center the place I am batting, I like to interact with the followers.”
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Warner acknowledged the Australians needed to win over the Pakistan followers after such an extended absence.
“I’ve obtained nothing however nice phrases to say in regards to the place,” he stated.
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