Orissa, Feb. 23 -- Cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan has a rich history dating back to the 1980s. In 1987, Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq's visit to India to watch a cricket match in Jaipur helped ease tensions during a period of heightened military activity.

The practice continued with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 'cricket diplomacy' in 2004 when he sent the Indian team to tour Pakistan for the first time in 14 years, delivering the message 'Dil jeetke aana' (Win hearts there). This tour symbolized the power of cricket to bridge divides, as India secured it's first-ever Test and ODI series victories on Pakistani soil.

Similarly, in 2011, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited his Pakistani counterpart...