India v. Pakistan Resumes

For the first time since the horrific attacks on Mumbai on 26/11 India and Pakistan have played each other in a bilateral series.  What has brought about this change?

This short series of T20 and ODIs is the first tentative steps in the normalization of sporting relations between India and Pakistan.  There are signs that there has been real progress behind the scenes in Pakistan towards acknowledging the role of elements in Pakistan in the terror attacks on India and a serious movement towards prosecuting the masterminds.

On the Indian side the lone surviving terrorist, Kasab, has been hanged for his crimes.  So there is sense of some justice, however incomplete being done. 

Both sides have decided it is time to move forward, and unlike the case with the riots in Gujarat the Congress Government is keen to let the wounds of Mumbai heal.  As Indian cricket fans this is good news, but in our ethusiasm to rekindle sporting ties with Pakistan let us not forget the past, but rather honor and remember the innocents fallen, and the brave cops and hotel staff who acted with great heroism.  We should never forget them even while at the same time deciding to move on and look to a more peaceful future which includes bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan.

In terms of actual cricket this series may be quite inconsequential, as both teams are sitting in the middle of the ICC ratings tables, but in terms of symbolism and politics it is quite important, and it being India v. Pakistan, it is bound to be followed by millions if not billions around the world.

Good thought provoking article. IMO Indian players would have been
 better served playing in the remaining Ranji trophy matches, instead
 of this masala limited overs series. Considering the decline in our
 Test fortunes over the last 1.5 years, our players need all the
 practice they can get in longer version of the game. Especially ahead
 of the Australia Test series.
 
BCCI in their greed for money seem to be forgetting that a poor Test
 team will negatively impact the other formats also, and turn fans away
 from watching T20/ODI and even their prized IPL.