Pak vs Aus: Minute's silence, black armbands for Peshawar victims, Shane Warne at Pindi stadium

RAWALPINDI: The Australian and Pakistan teams observed one-minute silence and wore black armbands on Saturday in solidarity with the Peshawar blast victims and pay tribute to the legendary cricketer Shane Warne before the start of the second day’s play at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

A powerful bomb blast in Peshwar mosque during the Friday prayers had claimed the lives of 57 worshipers and injured nearly 200, sending shockwaves across the country.

"It’s a sad way to start the day," a commentator said as players wore black armbands to pay homage to the legendary Australian cricketer, who died of a heart attack in Thailand on Friday.

A handful of early morning spectators also stood in respect in the stands.

Warne was widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time -- a larger-than-life character whose tally of 708 Test wickets has been surpassed only by fellow spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

His death is a double blow for Australia after another cricketing great, Rod Marsh, also died Friday after suffering a heart attack.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins admitted the team was shaken.

"Yeah, these are really tough times with, you know, both Rod and Shane gone," he told the host broadcaster ahead of the day's play.

"I just encourage everyone to talk about it."

Cummins said Warne was popular around the world.

"You know, his showmanship and all those things that he brought to Australian cricket are probably my longer-lasting memories.

"I think playing across the world, you realise just it wasn´t only Aussies that felt that it was... in all corners."