ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to reciprocate President Musharraf’s cricket diplomacy by making an appearance at the second One Day International to be hosted at Rawalpindi on Feb 11, signals from across the border indicate.
The last minute rescheduling of first and second ODIs on the request of Indian security team also suggests that the venue and date of the second ODI is being tailored to fit the Indian Prime minister’s schedule.
No Pakistani official appeared willing to confirm the possibility of the Indian Premier’s visit. However, a New Delhi based journalist said the Indian interest in security arrangements for the Rawalpindi ODI clearly signalled that a visit was being planned.
The first ODI was to be played at Peshawar on Feb 6 and the second at Rawalpindi on Feb 8. The two matches were rescheduled last week and the venue for the first was switched to Rawalpindi to be followed by a fixture at Peshawar on Feb 8. It was announced that the change was being made in view of the shortage of the security staff in Peshawar.
The itinerary was changed yet again just three days ahead of Indian team’s arrival in Pakistan to move the venues back to the original plan. But this time an unusually long gap was allowed between the first and the second ODI to accommodate hosting of the second game at Rawalpindi on Feb 11.
President Musharraf visited India in April last year to witness a one-day cricket match between Pakistan and India on the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The visit provided the two leaders the opportunity to hold substantive talks to take the peace process forward.
Dr Singh’s visit to Pakistan has been long over due. He had accepted the invitation extended to him by both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during their respective visits to India.
