India welcomes Musharraf for cricket

India has welcomed Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, to watch the ongoing series between the two countries. Musharraf had earlier said in an interview that he would have liked to watch a game but would only go if invited. India's ministry of external affairs said Musharraf's visit would be more of a friendly visit than a state visit.

"The prime minister will welcome a visit by the president of Pakistan to watch one of the India-Pakistan matches and the governments of both countries are in touch with each other in this context," said a statement released by the ministry of external affairs. While a spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry said that Musharraf had not yet been invited, Pakistan's information minister, Sheikh Rashid, said the matter was being discussed and that Musharraf was thinking of visiting India.

The date and venue, according to India's head of external affairs, had been left to Musharraf. One advantage of leaving the decision to Pakistan is that it gives Musharraf the option to travel to or avoid Ahmedabad, a venue Pakistan were not keen on playing in.

Last year, a number of politicians travelled to Pakistan for the series there and though Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then India's prime minister, was invited and could not make it, he sent his advisers instead.