Considering the current dire relations between India and Pakistan, it’s hard to believe that not too long back — 1996 to be precise — a combined India-Pakistan cricket XI faced Sri Lanka in Colombo in a show of Asian sporting and diplomatic solidarity. And even more surprisingly, 70 years before that, a combined Hindu-Muslim team took on the mighty MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) in Bombay (now Mumbai) during a historical tour of India.

The possibility now of a bilateral cricket series in the near or distant future in any of the three formats is well-nigh impossible. But it was not always like that.

The first major step back was after the terror attack on Mumbai in November 2008, which resulted in 178 fatalities. Just months earlier, in the inaugural season of the IPL (Indian Premier League), a number of Pakistani cricketers had been warmly received by their franchise fans across the length and breadth of India. The horrors of 26/11, however, meant that they would never again be seen in the world’s most popular T20 franchise league. The last time India and Pakistan met in a Test match was at Bengaluru in December 2007.

But it was the combined administrative and........

© Indian Express