Shoaib Akhtar Hopeful of India-Pakistan Series in December

Shoaib Akhtar has expressed optimism that India and Pakistan will play a cricket series this year, as he hoped an improvement in relations between the two countries. (Sachin Tendulkar Believes fate of Indo-Pak Series Depends on Governments)

"There have been ups and down in relations between India and Pakistan. It has been a roller-coaster," Akhtar said.

Akhtar voiced optimism that the proposed bilateral series between India and Pakistan in UAE next month will take place as planned.

Akhtar said "eventually we will come to the point when we will sit together, put our hands together and work things out.

"Insha Allah yeh series hogi (this series will happen). I am sure Pakistan and India will play this year," he said.

"I feel that the two great nations will sit together, and the circumstances and situations will improve and the next 70 years should be prosperous than how it has been so far," he added.

Akhtar said Indians and Pakistanis have great adulation for cricketers from each other's nations, adding that he has a huge fan following in India and Pakistanis also admire Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"They are not just Indians' heroes but they are a Pakistani's heroes also. There is so much adulation for both nations," he said.

Tendulkar had earlier this week said that it's upto the governments of the two nations to decide whether India and Pakistan should play against each other.

"Also I think that the relations (between India and Pakistan) need to improve. If the governments feel that this (cricket) is the ideal way to move forward and the (cricket) Boards (feel so), I do not see any reason why we should not play," Tendulkar had said.