Islamabad, August 17: Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday arrived in Pakistan to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan. According to a tweet by ANI, Sidhu said he is going to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador. "I am going to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador. I am going there with the hope that relations between our two nations will improve", Sidhu said at Attari-Wagah border.

Sidhu, who is now an Indian parliamentarian, has been invited for Pakistan PM designate Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony which will be held on Saturday.  According to Pakistan news agency, Geo News, Sidhu arrived in Lahore via Wagah border and will travel to Islamabad for the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for August 18.

Sidhu was issued a 14-day Pakistani visa on Wednesday by the High Commission in New Delhi to attend Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony. Last week, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) informed that some star Indian cricketers, including Navjot Sidhu, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, have been invited to the inauguration of Premier.

However, earlier this week, former Indian captain Kapil Dev said he will not be attending the oath-taking ceremony, citing ‘personal reasons’. Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar also declined the invite due to his commentary commitments during the ongoing Test series between England and India.

After gaining a majority in the July 25 general elections, Imran Khan, a former Pakistan Test captain who founded PTI in 1996, is expected to be sworn in as prime minister on Saturday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2018 04:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).