New Delhi, Oct 22: Responding to a long standing demand of the sporting fraternity, the government today decided to restore full sporting ties with arch rivals Pakistan, paving the way for bilateral cricketing exchanges between the two neighbours after 14 years. The long awaited resumption of bilateral cricketing ties between the two Asian powerhouses was announced by External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha at a press conference here, a decision that reflected the perceptible change in the sporting climate.
India, which had last toured Pakistan for a bilateral series in 1989, was scheduled to visit that country next year as per the International Cricket Council's calendar and the government's decision to lift the ban has now allowed the Cricket Board to honour all its international commitments.
The Indian government banned bilateral cricketing relations with Pakistan after the Kargil conflict in 1999, but permitted the team to play in multi-national tournaments like the World Cup.
The government's decision to restore full sporting ties with Pakistan comes barely a month after it approved a series of tournament involving Pakistan at the junior level which raised speculation that the senior-level exchanges would also get the nod in due course of time.
Although the Indians have not toured Pakistan since 1989, Pakistan toured India for three tests in early 1999. The first two tests in Chennai and New Delhi went off without any incidents but the last match in Kolkata witnessed unruly crowd behavior forcing the police to empty the stadium for the match to be completed.
Bureau Report