By IANS,
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s invitation Friday to Pakistani leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Yousuf Raza Gilani to witness the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final at Mohali March 30 is yet another chapter in cricket diplomacy between the two neighbours. Earlier incidents of India-Pakistan cricket diplomacy have been:
On Feb 21, 1987, Pakistan president Zia-ul-haq watched the second day of the lone India-Pakistan Test match at Sawai Man Singh stadium at the invitation of Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Zia crossed the border when the armies were on high alert on the border, during a period of high tension over Kashmir. He was accompanies by a big delegation of 68 officials and businessmen.
In 2004, the Indian cricket team went to Pakistan for the first full tour after more than a decade. It was termed as the Friendship series.
April 17, 2005, Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh watched the last One-day International match at Delhi’s Feroze Shah Kotla grounds.