User:Vibhijain/Pakistani cricket team in India in 2012–13

The Pakistan's tour of India in 2012–13 is a proposed bilateral cricket series between the India national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team. It is proposed to be held between December 2012 to January 2013, and will consist of three One Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20I). It was proposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and will be the first bilateral cricket series between the two sides in five years. The proposed venues for the ODIs are Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi; whereas the proposed hosts for the T20Is are Bangalore and Ahmedabad. The tour is proposed to take place after 22 December 2012, when the England national cricket team's tour of India will be over. The Pakistan Cricket Board welcomed the decision, saying that "millions of fans would be delighted".

Background
The India–Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the most "intense sports rivalries" in the world. However due to 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were conducted with the support of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, no bilateral cricket series has been players between the two teams. The last bilateral cricket series between the two teams was played in November 2007, which India won by 3-2.

Reactions
When the BCCI proposed the tour, it received criticism from various political parties of India, including the Shiv Sena, Indian National Congress and Samajwadi Party. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre said,"There should not be any difference between what people feel and what the BCCI decides", advising the BCCI to consider "people's sentiments". Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said,"We should consider allowing them to come to our country only after Pakistan clears its policy on international terrorism". Samajwadi Party's Member of the Legislative Assembly Abu Azmi said,"Pakistan is a culprit (in terror attacks) in Mumbai. How can we have sporting relations with them?"

Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar also expressed opposition towards the tour, citing Pakistan's non-cooperation in the investigations of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He said,"Being a Mumbaikar I feel what is the urgency when there is no co-operation from the other side'. He added that an additional series will increase the pressure of the Indian cricket team, due to the tight schedule in the upcoming season. He said,"My first reaction is that the time the players have between the England series, it is not going to be there. They are playing England in November-December but now they are not going to get the breather. Players need the time to look after their injuries and get better."