NEW DELHI, March 4: India's cricket team will call on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee next week before they embark on the first full tour of Pakistan in 15 years, it was announced on Thursday.

Vajpayee will receive Saurav Ganguly's men at his residence here on Wednesday, a few hours before the team departs for Lahore. "Considering the importance of the goodwill tour, the prime minister will personally meet the team members and extend his good wishes to them," a cricket board release said.

It was on Vajpayee's insistence that the government lifted a three-year ban on bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan in October following a thaw in diplomatic relations between the warring neighbours.

Vajpayee intervened a second time last month when the tour was put in doubt following reports that security agencies wanted it postponed till after the Indian general elections in April-May.

Sporting teams in India are not normally granted an audience with the head of government before an event, but official receptions are held on their return if they have turned in an exceptional performance. -AFP