Home ministry gives nod to Indo-Pak cricket series
31 Oct 2012 6:52 AM IST
The fabled on-field cricketing rivalry between sub-continental giants India and Pakistan is all set to resume after a gap of five years. After BCCI in last July agreed to host Pakistan for a limited over series, the Union home ministry on Tuesday cleared the neighbouring team’s tour of India in December besides assuring that the government will provide foolproof security to the visiting side.
The series comprises three ODIs and two T20s to be played between December 2012 and January 2013. The ODIs are likely to be held in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi while Bangalore and Ahmedabad will host the T20s. The ministry also gave visa clearance to Pakistani spectators.
The two countries last played Tests in 2007-8 when Pakistan toured India. Though India were to play in the neighbouring country in 2009, the tour was called off in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
It may be recalled that both the countries tried hard to improve south Asian cricket diplomacy with PM Manmohan Singh inviting the then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf to New Delhi to watch a match in 2005. The following year, India beat their arch-rivals in both Tests and ODIs in an away series. However, just when peace process looked irreversible, all those efforts fell flat with Islamist terrorists attacking Mumbai in November 2008, killing 166 people. The heinous act prompted India to suspend all ongoing peace dialogues.
After a long hiatus, the tone to resume bilateral cricketing ties was again set when PM Manmohan Singh and his then Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani together watched the 2011 World Cup semiat the PCA Stadium in Mohali.
The series comprises three ODIs and two T20s to be played between December 2012 and January 2013. The ODIs are likely to be held in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi while Bangalore and Ahmedabad will host the T20s. The ministry also gave visa clearance to Pakistani spectators.
The two countries last played Tests in 2007-8 when Pakistan toured India. Though India were to play in the neighbouring country in 2009, the tour was called off in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
It may be recalled that both the countries tried hard to improve south Asian cricket diplomacy with PM Manmohan Singh inviting the then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf to New Delhi to watch a match in 2005. The following year, India beat their arch-rivals in both Tests and ODIs in an away series. However, just when peace process looked irreversible, all those efforts fell flat with Islamist terrorists attacking Mumbai in November 2008, killing 166 people. The heinous act prompted India to suspend all ongoing peace dialogues.
After a long hiatus, the tone to resume bilateral cricketing ties was again set when PM Manmohan Singh and his then Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani together watched the 2011 World Cup semiat the PCA Stadium in Mohali.
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