My heart goes out to Salman's friends, family: Shoaib Akhtar

Hours after Salman Khan was granted bail in connection with the Blackbuck poaching case, former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar on Saturday said that his heart goes out to his family and friends.

Talking to ANI, Akhtar, expressed sympathy for the bollywood actor and said that though he is saddened by the news that his 'friend' Salman is being sentenced to five years in prison in the case, he respects the decision of honorable court of India.

"I have a respect for honourable court of India. The law must take its course. We got to respect the decision of what honorable court has to say. For Salman to get bail, as a friend, my heart goes out for his friends and family," Akhtar said.

The bail plea was heard in a Jodhpur court today regarding the actor's conviction for five years in the endangered species' poaching case.

The actor had on Thursday appealed for a bail following his conviction in the 20-year-old case.

Salman was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of killing two blackbucks in Jodhpur during the shooting of his movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in 1998.

The other four accused - actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, and Sonali Bendre - were acquitted in the case.