Cricket 'aids Indo-Pakistan ties'

Many Indians had travelled to watch the game

Indian deputy premier LK Advani says India's cricket tour of Pakistan is an "important step" in restoring normal ties between the two countries.

He also complimented the Indian team's historic win over Pakistan on Wednesday in the one-day series.

The win, the first by an Indian national side in Pakistan, has been greeted with delight in India.

India's cricket board has announced a bonus of five million rupees ($110,000) for the team, reports say.

The exciting cricket finale in the Pakistani city of Lahore gripped most Indians who stayed indoors on Wednesday to watch the game.

But they poured onto the streets late into the night bursting firecrackers and beating drums.

Thursday's newspapers reflected the country's mood.

There are very few countries in the world where an Indian is made to feel special.... Pakistan, the only one that has done battle with it four times already, is one of them The Times of India Your views: Will the cricket make a lasting difference to Pakistan-India ties?

"Lords at Lahore", "We did it", "Do you really need words" are some of Thursday's banner headlines.

In a front page lead The Asian Age said it could not have been better.

"After years of suffering a bloodied nose, India put it past their old rivals in the best possible fashion," it exulted.

The Statesman summed up the mood with the words "Feeling Great" written over a picture of a triumphant Indian team with their arms raised in celebration.

Many papers paid tribute to cricket hero Irfan Pathan, who played a crucial role in Wednesday's victory.

The Indian Express described how Pathan's father, Mehboob, a Muslim cleric in the Gujarati city of Baroda, embraced and kissed the television screen when his son was shown on it.

"I had waited for this historic day," he was quoted as saying.

"I had offered special prayers for our team and my son."

Friendship tour

Despite the glee, many took time off to mention how much the tour had done to improve relations between Indians and Pakistanis.

In a front page article "Brothers across the border", The Times of India reported how taxi drivers refused money from travelling Indians, security guards apologised for frisking fans and how the visitors received countless invitations for lunch and dinner.

"There are very few countries in the world where an Indian is made to feel special.

It was a historic and touching moment on Wednesday when the daughter and grandson of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah set foot on Pakistan soil for the first time The News

"Strangely enough, Pakistan, the only one that has done battle with it four times already, is one of them," it said.

Several thousand Indians took advantage of simplified visa procedures to travel to Pakistan, many for the first time.

One special visitor was the daughter of the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Dinah Jinnah, who lives in India and was estranged from her father, had never been to Pakistan.

Newspapers described how she watched the game sitting next to Pakistan's present ruler, Pervez Musharraf.

"It was a historic and touching moment on Wednesday when the daughter and grandson of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah set foot on Pakistan soil for the first time," reported Pakistan's The News.

Pakistan greets winners

India's win has also been greeted across the border.

Indians crowded round screens across the country

In an article headlined "Pakistan outclassed as India rewrite history" the Daily News said that "India has emerged the true winners of the friendship series".

"They showed commitment and determination and outclassed their opponents in all departments of the game.

The Nation wrote that India had played the match with "the tag of chokers hanging around its neck like an albatross" with its record as poor finishers.

"But it was Pakistan that ended up surrendering the match," it said.

Here is a selection of your views on the whether the cricket series will be of lasting benefit to relations between Pakistan and India.

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I would like to thank Pakistan for such a warm welcome to the Indian cricket team and others and other Indians there to watch the live match. Hoping that the Cricket control board of both the countries will very soon be agree to organise similer series again but this time in India. cheers -anand
Anand, India

The indo-pak cricket series was indeed a spectacle. Honestly, did anyone ever belive that this series would solve the political infraction between the two countries! South east asian politics has never been doctrined by the masses.
velu, india

None of the other sports played across the world have have got this honour to re-establish peace between two contries. Insha Allah! wish that peace prevails among India and Pakistan. Congratulations to both contries!
Sanjiv Malik, Japan

I would like to say congratulations to the Indian team for winning and the Pakistan team for showing that they only just lost and could have won themselves. I have heard various reports of the way the indians have been treated in Pakistan it has been magnificient and it is a credit to the people of Pakistan. The brothers and sisters in West Punjab and the whole of Pakistan should be welcomed into India. It is only political spin doctors who cast a murky shadows on each other. At the end of the day only a border seperates a people who share a rich heritage and culture. Inzamam U Haq said many gracious words towards the Indians and it was such a shame that the other end the aloof and arrogant Indian captain Ganguly could not thank the Pakistan people for their hospitality.
Johnny Singh , England

It was terrific to see and read about the positive attitude of the pakistani public towards the indian players and visitors.The Indian people I am sure are more than willing to host both their players and visitors with equal warmth and hospitality.In the past and even today,Indians have admired players like Imran Khan,Javed Miandad,Saeed Anwar,Inzy from Pakistan,who have provided great entertainment and happiness to the cricket-loving people of India.Like in Lahore,the People of Chennai too have stood up as one(even before any peace process)to applaud a victorious Pakistani team.It is time to 'bury the hatchet'.Let us live as good and friendly neighbours.Competing fiercly when required but with good grace and dignity.Let us begin afresh.
Santosh Menon, India

This is more in reply to Zaman's mail than the article. Its sad that we seem to monitor visiting captains (or VIPs in any significant role) for "politically correct" statements rather than displays of emotive gestures, as given by his late night sojourn to the now-famous Food Street in Lahore after the first match. Which one, Zaman bhai, would you prefer, for winning of hearts or a display of sincerity- a clearly drafted, diplomatic speech or a spontaneous visit like this? I think you too know the answer. Criticism for just criticism's sake is passe and that's it.Just to remind you also that this man was still in considerable physical pain when he entered the ground - not just to cheer his own players but also to acknowledge the Pak batsmen on a battle well fought in the field.I think its time we transcended on what was spoken (or not spoken as in this case) and looked for actions genuine, straight from the heart and beyond diplomacy.I feel the best outcome of this visit was! not only a look at the new Pakistan but also at our own hearts with a more humane perspective. My warm wishes to all my Pakistani friends.
Gourab Goswami, India

I thank God for the great miracle that has taken place in the form of this cricket series. For me what matters more is the relationships between these two lovely countries. They have so much to share in common and enrich one another. The Lions of India and Pakistan are together now after a long break and I believe and pray that the gathering of these Lions continues and even helps prepare a way for peace and harmony. An INdian friend of mind was so surprized to experience the hospitality from Pakistan. For me this is the victory and there is no great victory than victory over the hearts.
saleem Amir, Pakistan

Participating in the competition and taking it has a sportive from both sides was really tremandous,excellent and stood as one of the major events in the history in developing the relationships.
B Prakash Rao, India

well done both the teams, victory or defeat are parts of game, lets hope v have good relations at all levels, little more was/is required from the indian team (spec indian captain at the time of ceremony)to have won the hearts of this emotional pakistani nation.
arif, Pakistan

It is time that Pakistan stopped demonizing India. India (and Indians) have no desire to harm Pakistan; Pakistan should stop interfering in India's internal affairs. Somehow Pakistanis can't live with the fact that 130 million Muslims live peacefully in India. The existence of a multicultural, secular India seems to threaten Pakistan. My message to the Pakistani people: 1947 is over. The partition is over. Kashmir joined India. Get over it. Concentrate your resources more on improving your own country, rather than on taking what is not yours.
Ajay, USA

The feel good factor is on a rise, it has to spill from the crease to the stadium then to the common people of the sub-continet and then to the world. There is so little time to enjoy what life has to offer, still than people find time to hate. Let cricket show the poeple accross the LOC that boundries can never hold back aspiration of peace, prosperity and sense of brotherhood. Let the combined message go to those plotting to destroy peace and prosperity that we will all stand together to fight our common enemy in hunger, disease and poverty.
Krishna Kaphle, Nepal/Taiwan

Indians will start to see Pakistanis in a human context rather than demonizing them as they have been taught by their political avtars for years.
faeyza khan, france

Being from Lahore and present at the Lahore matches it did not seem that we were playing a 'rival enemy' country. It was heartening to see my people let the visiting indians get in front of them in the queues, cheer the fifty by dravid and let out fire crackers when the Indians won. My nation did me proud though the team failed us miserably. All we wanted was a word of thanks from the mighty indian captain. None came, it was like a home crowd for the indians and we all nursed our horsed throats. The indians may have won the cricket but they did not win out hearts, we lost the cricket but hope we won the hearts. Ganguly you are a great captian but you like Imran forgot those that mattered in the moment of your victory. Next time thanks the crowd and the pakistani people before hand, there is only so much a heart can give
zaman, Pakistan

This is one major step, for peace in both countries and around world. It was a great joy for both countries.
Surinder, England

Cricket is not politics. The former is the art of winning games, the latter is the art of war. The 'Friendship' series will soon be out of generals' minds and they will be back to the planning room. It is their job. Pakistan's loss on the cricket field is just one more reason for them to try and achieve even a pyrrhic victory on the battlefield. A small dispute is enough to put things in reverse. Let's not, therefore, delude ourselves that there will be no more wars between the two nations.
R Ramnath, India

This historic cricket tour will do more to strengthen relation that any political initiative could ever possibly have done. Citizens on both sides have understood the immense economic benefits of improved relations - and that the fires of hatred have been instigated by vested interests on both sides of the border.
Harsh Chopra, India

i think this indian cricket teem series with pakistan very big moment to develop friendship not only both 2 countries, it's feeling all south asia.i t will be a golden page in our history.
eranga, sri lanka

First of all many congratulations from me to Indian team who won with great committment. We would like friendship but it should be of two sided.
Ch. Arif Hussain, Pakistan

If there was a bible on cricket, then this series would have been the introduction and conclusion of the book. It certainly lived upto the expectations and cricket came out as the winner in the end.
M Siddiqui, Surrey, Uk

I would like to congratulate Indian team on this success. This was coming long time, if it was not Pakistan than it would have had happen elsewhere because this Indian team is good and feeling good. Let's not forget the effort young and established player put into this series. It is not over yet we all will witness more victories with this team. Well done India
Shailesh Pankhania, UK

Cricket has done so much to improve relations between these two nations in such a short time which the politicians could not in 50 odd years.
Zingaru, Uk

The way Indian team and its supporters have been welcomed in Pakistan, it has reaffirmed once again as ever that public in both sides love to be close to each other. They are, on both sides, only the cruel politicians and those have their own personal benefits and agenda are creating all the fuss. I believe and wish that this series will help to melt the ice and bring the both side closer than ever before.
Tahir Ramay, Uk

Of course the bonhomie is a nice thing, and wouldn't we all like to believe in the feel-good factor that the present Indian government is so keen on projecting? But we are also only too well aware of the power of rhetoric and the ephemeral euphoria of a cricket win that tend to fashion out of grim reality a fuzzy sense of well-being. It's like gorging on chocolate, or the proverbial night before. Nothing is as sobering as their effects.
Indra Sengupta, India/Germany

Watching the games over here in London, this series has truly been a spectacle. The passion & competitiveness with which it has been played has been great & the warmth shown to the players and fans has been refreshing. Stripping aside differing religous beliefs we have much in common with each other and as a Pakistani I look forward to our team and fans being welcomed in the same manner.
Imran Qureshi, Uk

I am very happy and proud of the Indian team. This will be an occasion where sport helps politics and it is good to hear that Pakistan have shown sportsmanship throughout. India are fast becoming the second best side in the world.
ranjit singh, england

I want to say somehting to both the people of India and Pakistan, only two people know each other feelings thoughts very nicely either the two very old friends or two very old enemies. India and Pakistan have been enemies for long we know each other feelings and no doubt both respect each other a lot. If we are friends liek UK and US or even better 5 years, I am sure 5 years is enough to change everything, both these nation will become a super power. And infact why not liek I am an hindu appart from my festivals i love the most is eid when I go to our muslim friends house all are so friendly and it feels so good to sit among them and talk. I am studying in UK and here I have found all pakistani guys so nice to Indian and vice versa so I cna feel how nice it feels to be friends with them I feel more united and close since we speak same language we look alike our culture is very similar. So if we see world wide India & Pakistan can havethe most strongest friendship relashinship.
Atul Roy, India

england

This series has seen both India and Pakistan winn.Indian players on the field and the people of Pakistan, off the field.Congratulations to both.
Nirmal Bagchi, Germany

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