The bus to Pakistan.

I do not see the special buses connecting Kashmir and Pakistan making the headlines too often these days. The attempts made by India and Pakistan to come to a settlement have also dried up.

There are terror threats and political blaming stories from both of them. I guess the forth coming Indo Pak series would help the cause. A chance for the countries on either side of the border to renew their “ties” is in the offing.

More than everything, it is pure cricketing thrill that everyone is expecting out of this series. India wne the test and one-day series held in Pakistan in 2004. The rival teams are locking horns in a similar tie after a year.

This time around Pakistan has a better ODI squad than the Indians. Akhtar is in peak form and all others have been contributing in the recent matches against England. It should be an interesting war on field. Hope that the series is not a one-sided affair. India is definitely going to have a tough tour and it would be great if they could manage to win the series.

It would be a double treat if they win hearts of the people of Pakistan by displaying good sporting skills coupled with sportsmanship which the Aussies seem to be missing.

Remember how the matches went last time around?

TEST SERIES
3. India seal series win
2. Pakistan draw level
1. India make history

ONE-DAY SERIES
5. India take series
4. Dravid sets up India win
3. Hameed sets up Pakistan win
2. Pakistan level series
1. India win Karachi thriller

Who are you betting on this time around?