The oppressive heat at Visakhapatnam, with humidity crossing 90 per cent, is bound to make the second India-Pakistan ODI a test of fitness and endurance.
Premier Wen Jiabao, however, warned visiting Pakistani Prime Minister that terrorism and extremism were directly endangering the security of both China and Pakistan, as well as regional peace and stability.
Former prime minister and BJP veteran leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be conferred with the country's highest civilian award the "Bharat Ratna" after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his consent in his regard on Wednesday.
'Both India and Pakistan don't want to escalate tensions.' 'So no matter what is claimed before the public, the reality is slightly different.'
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said a fund-raising match has been planned to help survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami.
The paceman had injury problems in the recent ICC Champions Trophy in England, forcing him to miss the semi-final defeat by the hosts, and that has weighed heavily on the minds of the selectors with Test series coming up against Pakistan, India and Australia.
India's marauding cricket team will be aiming to reclaim the No 1 spot in ICC rankings when it takes on an unsettled New Zealand in the second Test starting, in Kolkata, on Friday.
Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara eye top 10 places while Ravindra Jadeja jumps to career-best third position among Test all-rounders.
In its 'Right of Reply', India also rejected the 'fanciful and misleading' remarks by the Pakistani envoy to the United Nations.
The 70-year-old L Ramdas bagged the award for peace and international understanding.
"Like any committed cricketer, Irfan likes to take wickets while I try to make runs," said the Pakistan vice-captain.
Dressed in military overalls, the general waved to the crowd from a glass-panelled enclosure when the 31st over was being bowled in the day-night clash.
India will begin their campaign in the 2004 tournament with a match against Germany.
Addressing his first press conference after taking over as foreign minister, Singh said the new government is committed to take the Indo-Pak peace process forward.
Meanwhile, the test drew strong criticism from North Korea's neighbours and the West which warned of a robust response to its "grave provocations".
The event is considered to be the first major challenge for the British after they had become the dominant power in the Indian sub-continent.
The proposals include holding of talks for bus links between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, and Khokrapar (Rajasthan) and Munabao (Sindh province).
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Saturday blasted his hardline counterpart for accusing him of having a secret meeting with emissaries of Narendra Modi, saying Syed Ali Shah Geelani was making irresponsible statements aimed at creating confusion among people.
However, dialogue and terrorism do not go hand in hand, he told Russian journalists.
"We had a tough series in Australia and we'd like to use that to our advantage in Pakistan," the Indian vice-captain said.
Pakistan are to follow England and South Africa by the truncated version of the one-day game where both teams play for 20 overs.
Having played a stellar role many a time in India-Pakistan clashes, all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that the defending champions have a far superior unit and will do well against the arch-rivals in the high-voltage opening World Cup encounter on February 15 in Adelaide.
The PCB will rest the fast bowler to allow him to recover from his rib-cage stress fracture injury.
Pakistan can break World Cup jinx against underperforming India, believes former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas.
'The US will continue to play an important role in the revival of the Pakistan-India dialogue process,' Jamali said.
India can be called "more Islamic than Pakistan" as more Muslims live here than that country, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the chief of Pakistan Rangers who called on him to discuss ways to keep the border peaceful.
A cricket ground in the Netherlands is to be inspected for a ODI series involving Pakistan, India and Australia later this year.
'The onus is now on China to explain to the world why it feels Pakistan should accompany India on the question of NSG Membership!! China's not so covert help for Pakistan's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes will stand exposed,' says former ambassador G Parthasarathy.
India's Test captain Virat Kohli is a 'phenomenal player and a treat to watch', feels legendary New Zealand fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee.
During their visits to Islamabad, they will discuss with officials 'bilateral and regional issues' with particular focus on the Indo-Pak standoff.
India skipper Sourav Ganguly hinted that Parthiv Patel would be one of them in Tuesday's crucial Asia Cup tie against Sri Lanka.\n\n
India is actively considering the Pakistani proposal on the talk schedule for remaining secretary-level meetings in the third round of resumed dialogue with dates on the crucial issue of water and Sir Creek being suggested ahead of the meeting between their prime ministers in New York in September.
Malaysian coach Paul Lissek feels that India's decision to play agressively would help his side.
India and Iran on Monday decided to jointly combat terror, radicalism and cyber crime as the two strategic partners signed 12 agreements including a "milestone" pact on developing the key Chabahar port for which India will provide $500 million.
