NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s prime minister has extended a warm and rare invitation for the leaders of Pakistan to join him at a World Cup semifinal between their respective teams.
Wednesday’s match will be the first Pakistan has played in India since 2008, when terror attacks in Mumbai disrupted the peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbors. As the countries suspended their political talks, sports relations were put on hold.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent a letter inviting Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to join him for the match in Mohali in the border state of Punjab.
Singh’s letter says “there is huge excitement … we are looking forward to a great game of cricket that will be a victory for sport.”
