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Pak fans pour in
Hundreds of Pakistani fans arrived in India on Sunday ahead of the first Test on Pakistan's first tour of their fierce rivals for six years.
Hundreds of Pakistani cricket fans arrived in India on Sunday ahead of the opening Test on Pakistan's first tour of their fierce rivals for six years.
Nearly 750 men, women and children entered Punjab through the Wagah border crossing and were showed with flowers as they danced with Indian fans to drums and Punjabi folk songs.
"We do not have any relations in India. But we wanted to come here as I and my family were keen to see India, its cultural heritage, the farms and everything else," said Muhammed Asif, who came with his wife and son.
Several hundred more fans are expected to arrive in India on Monday, including film and theatre stars, politicians, bureaucrats and others, according to those who arrived on Sunday.
A special train service, the Samjhota Express from Pakistan, was cancelled on Saturday because of technical reasons, Indian officials said.
Many of the Pakistanis said they were visiting family members estranged by the 1947 partition of the two countries on gaining independence from Britain.
Cricket ties between the South Asian giants, disrupted since 2000 due to political tensions, were revived in March last year when India toured Pakistan for their first Test series since 1989.
