junior teams

If peace is on its way, can bilateral cricket relations between India and Pakistan be far behind? In an unexpected move, the Indian government has cleared Indian junior, A and academy teams to play in series involving Pakistan. It has also cleared Pakistan's participation in the Afro-Asian Games to be held in Hyderabad later this year. This is a significant move that goes beyond empty symbolism. Cricket has always been central to the jingoism that dominated the rhetoric of the Indian hawks, but Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Indian prime minister, has sent out yet another message that he is serious in his quest for peace.

The government has cleared the BCCI's proposal to send a team for a triangular series involving the academy teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to be held in Sri Lanka. Significantly, it has also cleared a quadrangular under-19 tournament to be played among the four Asian Test-playing nations in Pakistan. A tri-series involving the A teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka has also been cleared.

Pakistan last played in India in 1999, but India have not toured Pakistan since 1989. A complete thaw in relations may still be some way off, but a positive start has been made.