Pakistan, India Begin First Cricket Series in 5 Years
Indian cricket fans line up to get inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue of first Twenty20 cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Bangalore, India, December 25, 2012.
Pakistan has beaten India in the opening match of their first bilateral cricket series in five years.
The Pakistanis defeated India by five wickets Tuesday at Chinnaswamy Stadium in the Indian city of Bangalore.
Security was tight for the opening match, with thousands of paramilitary soldiers and police positioned outside the stadium and surveillance cameras monitoring activity in and around the venue.
Fans underwent body searches and went through metal detectors before being allowed to pass through.
The cricket series includes five matches (two Twenty20s and three one-day internationals) and is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
Bilateral ties were frozen four years ago after Pakistani-based gunmen carried out terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India that killed 166 people.
India has blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the siege. It claims the attacks were carried out with state support from Pakistan -- a charge Islamabad denies.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
Pakistan, India Hold First Cricket Series in 5 Years
1/9Indian cricket fans with their faces painted with the colors of the Indian flag, wait to enter the Sardar Patel Stadium, venue of the second Twenty20 cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Ahmadabad, India, December 28, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
2/9Indian cricket fans wave towards a bus carrying Pakistani cricket players, outside the Sardar Patel Stadium, December 28, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
3/9Indian cricket fans wait to enter the Sardar Patel Stadium, December 28, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
4/9Indian cricket fans jostle for tickets for the second Twenty20 cricket match between India and Pakistan in Ahmadabad, India, December 26, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
5/9An Indian cricket fan is joined by others as he waves the Indian flag outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue of first Twenty20 cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Bangalore, India, December 25, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
6/9Indian security personnel stand guard as the bus transporting members of Indian cricket team arrives Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue of first Twenty20 cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Bangalore, India, December 25, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
7/9A Pakistan cricket fan, Mohammad Bashir, center, of Chicago, holds a paper which reads 'Please I need one ticket India Pakistan match' as he stands in front of the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, India, December 24, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
8/9Indian cricket fans react to the camera as they line up to get inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, India, December 25, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
9/9Spectators crowd outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue of first Twenty20 cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Bangalore, India, December 25, 2012.
Security was tight for the opening Tuesday of the first bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India in five years. The series is seen as part of a gradual thaw in relations between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed rivals.
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