New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Friday to convey his best wishes for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
The arch rivals India and Pakistan will take on each other in their tournament opener on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
PM Modi tweeted this morning that he has spoken to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the heads of other SAARC countries whose teams are playing in the World Cup to wish them luck.
"Spoke to President Ashraf Ghani, PM Sheikh Hasina, PM Nawaz Sharif & President Sirisena. Conveyed my best wishes for the Cricket World Cup,” Modi said in an online message posted on his Twitter page.
Modi said 5 SAARC Nations are playing & are excited about the World Cup. “Am sure WC will celebrate sportsman spirit & will be a treat for sports lovers.”
He said cricket connects people in the region and promotes goodwill and hoped that the players from SAARC region play with passion and bring laurels to the region.
He also announced that India's new Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar would embark on a SAARC Yatra soon to further strengthen ties.
As the World Cup began on Thursday with the glittering opening ceremony, the Prime Minister had tweeted individual wishes for each member of Team India.
India's vice-captain Virat Kohli thanked Modi on Friday for his wishes and stated the team will give their best.
Fellow India batsman Ajinkya Rahane also thanked the Prime Minister and stated it means a lot to him.
Shikhar Dhawan also thanked PM Modi and stated that the team will be fully ready for the Indo-Pak clash and he hopes it will be a good Cup run for the hosts.
India are clubbed in Group B along with Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Zimbabwe and United Arab Emirates.
