Politics helps India, Pakistan resume rivalry

Prospects of India playing a Test match in Pakistan after 12 years have brightened after New Delhi invited Islamabad to hold peace talks last week, officials said on Sunday.

The Indian government invited Pakistan for a political summit, and Pakistan authorities are expected formally to accept the offer.

Political tensions over Kashmir have led to strained sporting relations between the two neighbours.

The Indian government refused to allow the national cricket team to make a Test tour of Pakistan late last year and also ruled out its participation in a one-day series in Sharjah involving Pakistan.

But Indian cricket authorities told their Pakistan counterparts on Friday that India would contest an Asian Test Championship match expected to be staged in Karachi from September 13 and 17.

India's Sports Minister Uma Bharti is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in the next two days, and is expected to support the team's trip to Pakistan, a sports ministry official said on Sunday.

The sports minister had earlier announced that bilateral cricket ties were not possible till political relations between the two countries improved.

Confirming that the meeting would take place on either Monday or Tuesday, the official said: "The government is very positive. We have not played each other for a long time. And people also feel they should play each other.

"We are trying to improve relations between the two countries, so let us start with cricket," the official, who did not want to be identified, said.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Bharti's meeting with the prime minister could result in the government formally clearing the cricket team's trip to Pakistan in September, he said.

"Our efforts... we have only one condition, Pakistan should maintain a positive attitude towards Kashmir. We hope these developments lead to an improved situation in Kashmir," he said.

India have not toured Pakistan to play Tests since 1989, when the team led by Krishnamachari Srikkanth drew a three-Test series. They returned in 1997 for a three-match one-day series to mark the independence of Pakistan.

Since 1989 Pakistan have toured India for two one-day series and a two-Test series in 1999. They also contested the opening match of the inaugural Asian Test championship at Calcutta.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India president A C Muthiah has said the Indian government had clarified that it had no objections if the teams met in a multilateral tournament.

The Asian Test championship will also be contested by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Former Test cricketer Kirti Azad supported the government's decision not to allow bilateral games with Pakistan because of the situation in Kashmir.

"The government has said if there are three or more teams, no problem. Why do you play games? Cricket hasn't helped resolve the problem in Kashmir. There I think the government is right in its stand.

"But as far as overall international commitments (are concerned), I feel you've got to honour them," Azad, who belongs to Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party, said.

Mail Cricket Editor