SUBMITTED BY: M YASIR UMER BAHRIA UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD Pakistan vs India, Its not just Cricket

The two most popular rivals in the history of the world are Pakistan and India. Since partition both countries became their true enemies, they had been engaged at wars but they still stand to each other with same spirit, valor, pride, confidence and self-reliance. As both the countries are nuclear powers so they are of the same caliber to fight against each other. The ideology of both the nations is similar in many aspects of their culture, norms and living style but they are completely opposite polls in their religions. In spite of these differences both the nations had many days of peace prosperity and friendship, but for very short time periods. They had exchanged many prisoners of war and they also had supported sports across their borders. Pakistan and Indian cricket match is also not less than a war at field. Both the countries teams play at highest level of sportsman spirit and they put all their energy to win the match. This whole situation is enjoyed by every individual of the countries. The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have been longtime arch rivals, and their rivalry is considered to be the most intense and pressurizing battle in all of sports. An India-Pakistan cricket match has been estimated to attract up to one billion television viewers, and defeat is usually unacceptable to fans of both teams. Pakistan have an edge in the head to head records but the Indian cricket team has been the more dominant in crunch games of the Cricket World Cups and

ICC sponsored tournaments. World highest run getter and century maker and one of the biggest icon of cricket Sachin Tendulkar said in a recent interview in Mumbai that India vs Pak not just a game, fans in India and Pakistan react in the extreme and cricket does not remain merely a sport when the arch-rivals lock horns. Further he said Referring to the 1997 ODI series in Canada, Tendulkar said, "We beat Pakistan 4-1 and the reception we got in Delhi was incredible. About 50007000 fans were there to receive us at the airport at two in the morning. They threw garlands and roses at us. We were treated like kings," he recalled. Whereas on another occasion when he revealed the other side of the coin. We lost an ODI series 2-1 and the reaction was completely different. People looked at us as if were criminals and we have done something wrong. We lost 2-1 and because Ijaz Ahmed played an outstanding innings. Political instability had lead to less head to head counters and we can say that if India and Pakistan have had played regular cricket then the matches might be doubled. Pakistan tour India in 2004 after 15 years, since 1989, next series both played was 2004 series in India, which Pakistan won. This is merely because of government of sides were not interested and did not allow to play. Although this has been proved to improve the relationships between both the countries. Confidence Building Measures was started and this includes the innovation of a bus service across the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region, as well as a ferry service linking the ports of Mumbai and Karachi. People across border were given visas and convince offers. Indians came Pakistan to watch live match and Pakistanis went India to watch live matches,

this create a friendly environment between public of both sides. Relationship between two nations improved after 2004 Pak-indo series in India and further than Pakistan invited India to play on their soil immediately next year. India came to Pakistan and successfully beat by heavy margin 4-1 one day series and they had received a warm welcome when they went back to their homeland and thousands of people welcomed them with flowers and blessings. This reception is considered the most warm welcome Indian cricket team might had ever received even warmer than when they won the 1983 world cup, despite the fact that the biggest achievement in cricket is winning world cup. Both countries agreed that they will play bilateral series every year but political instability did not made it possible and the last bilateral series of revival of Pak-Indo series ended in 2007 when Pakistan beat India in India 3-2 in one day cricket series and till than no positive steps are taken to revive series.

Nowadays Pakistan cricket board chairman went to meet Indian board President to conduct bilateral series on neutral grounds as it seems the only option left. But Indian board did not considered it seriously, as it clearly tells Indian board did not want to arrange series in near future. But crowd of both sides are still waiting for the clash of lions and dying to watch serious encounter between arch-rivals.