Former India batsman-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived in Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the country’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday.

Sidhu reached Lahore after crossing the Wagah border. The former opener, currently a minister in the Indian state of Punjab, was invited to the ceremony by Imran along with former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

Gavaskar refused to attend the event stating commentary commitments for the England-India series while the reason behind Dev’s absence was unclear.

“I have come to Pakistan as a friend, not as a politician,” Sidhu said upon his arrival in Pakistan. “Imran Khan knows how to transform weaknesses into strengths,” he added.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday.