Pakistan will meet their arch-rivals in five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s in December and January, their first full series since 2007, but Indian Hindu groups have urged Delhi to cancel and threatened protests.
The right-wing Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded India refuse to resume cricket ties until Pakistan brings to justice the masterminds behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead.
India halted all bilateral cricket with Pakistan after Mumbai, but earlier this month approved the short tour announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in July.
Wasim, one of the sport's greatest ever bowlers and now popular in India as a commentator, said he was hopeful of a trouble-free tour.
"I can't wait for this tour to happen," Wasim told AFP. "I am confident that the Indian government will make this tour a happy and safe one for our team because the whole world is waiting for this and want it to be series reviving one."
Wasim said all threats should act as motivation for both the countries.
"We toured India despite threats," said Wasim, who led Pakistan on the India tour in 1999 despite Shiv Sena activists dug up the pitch at the Delhi stadium, forcing officials to move the first Test to Chennai.
"We had full confidence in Indian security and that tour came off very well and I am sure this time too India will make sure it go untroubled."
Wasim said that after a break of five years, the cricket-mad Indian public were desperate to see their side take on their old rivals.
"The whole of India is keenly waiting for this tour to happen and I am sure come December 25 they will thong the stadium," said Wasim of the first Twenty20 in Bangalore. "I am sure Indian fans will give a good response to our team."
Ahmedabad will host the second Twenty20 on December 27 followed by one-day in Chennai (December 30), Kolkata (Jan 3) and Delhi (Jan 6).
Few rivalries in sport are as intense as India and Pakistan on the cricket field, and Wasim said he hoped the men in green would be buoyed by the occasion.
"I use to thrive in an India match," said Wasim, who helped his side maintain a dominant record over their arch-rivals during the span of his 104 Test and 356 one-day internationals career.
"I would not sleep the night before and would plan and most of the time handled the pressure well and came out winner.
"So it would be important for this Pakistan team to handle the pressure well. If they are scared of losing then they can't win. I think if Pakistan's batting clicks then we can beat India in India."
Correction: The date of the second T20 was incorrectly mentioned in an earlier version of the article. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (21)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Nitish: Surely a good suggestion. Imran Khan has stated that if he comes to power, he would convince Taliban to leave militancy and they will join the main stream in three months period. If that happens, guns and grenades shall be replaced with cricket bats and balls and Taliban cricket team consisting of die hard fighters would be difficult to beat even at international level. .
Anyone can watch the match in the stadium .... but as far as i am concerned i am not going to watch this series..and will definitely urge my friends here to do the same ..... .
After reading all the comments i think india Pakistan series will be played in empty stadiums as no indian want Pakistani team to visit india and they will not come to watch the match and Pakistani fans are facing difficulty in getting visas.
@afzaalkhan: Who was more anxious to play cricket between the two countries- India or Pakistan? And what do we get from this all- Mr Bajpai went to Lahore- we got Kargil; Mr Manmohan Singh tried to ease relations with Pakistan- we got Mumbai. We can argue, counter-accuse or deny- but these area facts.
@robinhoodpande
And why would pakistani care abt "no one in india wanting tour"? Dude talk to your own govt if it is such issue, we are coming on invitation of your board. So take the issue with your board why you crying here?
@sardar khan
do u not know that pakistani govt has officially accepted that all the 10 terrorist were pakistani.?? Do u have tv? If yes then i wonder how u missed the geo tv report which showed kasab's village... still its not too late....u can google and find out abt the nationality of terrorist.....u seem to b horribly ill informd
Nobody want to see pak team play in india...so plz dnt say that only radicals dnt want to see pak team in india.... If Pak team comes then it should stay in taj hotel and given trophies by widow of mumbai attack...and finally pak team should be sent back to karachi in the same boat used earlier by another pakistani team
@Enlightened: Why you bunderstanis are mixing sport with politics?You are the only country (exept South Africa under white rule)which mixes politics with suport,what a shameful attitude.If you stop mixing the both it will be good for the bothcountries cricket.But the trouble is you always live in the past and stuck yourself with 26/11.But you forget Gujrat and Samjhota Express.Firstly your government blamed both incidents on ISI and Pakistan,and after time past,it showed how wrong and intimidated your country was at that time.Who knows it may be the same with 26/11,it may be an inside job by RAW and hindu terrorists?So be suport and let the fort coming matches be played between the two teams as suport and not as a political ping pong.You yourself admitted the suporters of cricket are looking forward to these matches,so let them happen and accept Pakistani with open arms and not as a spoil suport and moning and winging person.
@I think
getting really tired of Indian saying don't want the tour, well then do something about it telling us pakistanis abt it not gonna change anything, as far as am concerned cry me a river,. If its such a big issue get off the net and do something in your own country so your govt can listen to so called "majority" which is against the tour. Either way stop coming on pakistani web sites to cry about it.
Common people and victims of 26/11 don't want paki sportsmen to come to India .I think Indian gov is also not interested , but some grey haired politicians continue to dream after all these incidents. That's why paki citizens are also not allowed and they need local sponsors , so that 26/11 master minds can't come.If Indian gov doesn't cancel this tour , then we mango public will show our determination.
Hey.. are you back home or just visiting?
@Pessimist: Everything changed after 26/11 as people in India are convinced that the state was behind the Mumbai carnage and no action is being taken against Hafeez Sayeed and Co who is roaming free, delivering hatred speeches against India which are watched by Indians on their news channels. Hence, people here are not very enthusiastic about this tour but nevertheless they will come to watch the matches being an Indo-Pak series.
Having gone through the tour related articles on this website, it seems that many Indians are against this tour. They don't hate our team but oppose the tour for other obvious reasons. I don't know if that's a majority or minority of them. If it were me, I would investigate this matter. If the fans & general public (most important part of the game) aren't happy, then we need to respect that and not tour. It would have been better if the series was in a neuteral venue e.g. England or UAE.
@Karanjkar: Akram is paid for his services, so he has to say what his masters are telling him. he is paid by you indians via star sports and IPL. If you indian dont want to play us why cant you tell your OWN channels
In fact, except media and Govts, Cricekt Boards which are only money oriented, we "mango peaople of India" do not want this series to happen! Just look down side on the houses roads, local trains, you will hear only one voice, people do not want to play cricket with Pakistan. Akram is paid for his services, so he has to say what his masters are telling him. I feel sorry about my favourate legend.
Correction should be made, 2nd T20I is on December 27 rather than November 27
Wasim,
Its is true, you are the only Super Star Crickter of Pakistan
Since last many years, you were in India, why you did not do any good to bring India and Pakistan Cricket close, you were only busy to enjoy in media glamour and making money.
Pakistani Cricket , and Pakistan country also need you,
Dont forget, you are super star just because of PAKISTAN