ISLAMABAD, March 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday said that Pakistan-India cricket series would mark a beginning of a new era and set a good tradition in the field of sports.

He asked the nation to show traditional hospitality during the series beginning on Saturday with a one-day match in Karachi.

In a message to the nation, the President said that the cricket series between Pakistan and India, after 15 years, would mark the start of a new era in the field of sports.

The President Pervez Musharraf said he would like the nation to extend the traditional hospitality to the visiting Indian team. "It is not the question of win or lose, the good performance should be appreciated," he said.

The president said that the people should show to the Indian guests that "we are a disciplined nation and we appreciate the good performance of both the teams." He said one should not be carried away by emotions as it affected the standard of the game.

The president asked the two teams to show good performance to the delight of the people.

He expressed the hope that the cricket series would set good traditions in the field of sports, which would continue in future.-APP