Wasim Akram ties the knot with Australian girlfriend Shaniera Thompson

Wasim Akram

Pakistan’s fast bowling legend Wasim Akram has married his Australian girlfriend Shaniera Thompson in a ceremony held at Lahore.

Wasims first wife, Huma, had passed away in 2009 after suffering multiple organ failure, and the cricketer hopes to start a new life with this wedding.

“I married Shaniera in Lahore last week in a simple ceremony and this is the start of a new life for me, my wife and for my kids,” said Wasim.

The 30 year old Shaniera Thompson worked as a public relations consultant in Australia. Wasim had proposed to her last month, a move that was written about widely.

Shaniera had travelled to Pakistan last month, and moved to Lahore last week to visit Wasim’s father, who has been suffering from an illness. The wedding was conducted in the presence of close family and friends in Lahore on August 12 .

Wasim, who has two sons from his previous marriage, hopes that the marriage will be good for the entire family. Shaniera, on her part, is making an effort to learn Urdu and has converted to Islam in order to adapt to her new home.

“She has embraced Islam and is learning our language. She has been close to my sons and they form a very good bond,” said Wasim, as reported by NDTV.

“I sincerely hope the people of Pakistan and our friends and supporters across the globe will give us their blessing and support,” he added.

Being one of the main architects of Pakistan’s World Cup win in 1992, Wasim Akram is hugely popular in Pakistan even today and is one of the country’s favourite heroes.