India packs the best
Both India and Pakistan have some of the best players of all time in their squads now.
Sachin Tendulkar is considered as a demi-God among the Indian populace. Millions of Indians and Pakistanis stop dead in their tracks whenever a match is played in the subcontinent. India's line up is considered to be the most solid line up ever and Pakistan posses some of the best bowlers in the world.
Indian batsman
Sachin Tendulkar is licking his lips at the prospect of playing Test cricket in Pakistan again, even though he admits feeling uneasy about the hype surrounding the historic series. Tendulkar made his debut on India's 1989/90 tour of Pakistan as a teenager but India have not played another Test series in Pakistan since then owing to political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
In Picture: Indian team members meeting with the President of india
Pakistan looking for a whitewash
Shahid Afridi was named in the Pakistan team after a year in the wilderness, following the team's poor performance in the World Cup in South Africa, where they failed to clear the first round.
Just hours before the first ball was bowled, Pakistan test-fired its new Saheen II missile, which can be fitted with nuclear weapons and could hit cities far into India, and the Indians hardly batted an eyelid.
Millions in both countries hope Cricket might bring together two countries that have fought three wars since they became independent from Britain in 1947. But for cricketers, they would like to treat it just like what it is - Another series.
In Picture: Pakistan players have what Indians lack - The much needed killer Instinct.