Intro:

Pakistan departed for India on Saturday (22nd December) as they prepare to face their neighbours in the first bilateral series in five years.

Script:

There is a lot of pressure on Pakistan to perform well during their tour of India.

In fact, supporters expect their cricketers to come home victorious.

It is the first time the two rivals have met in the bilateral series for five years.

Shahid Afridi was amongst the T20 players showered with praise and petals as Pakistan's T20 squad departed Lahore for Delhi on Saturday.

Mohammad Hafeez will captain for the Twenty20 squad, with Misbah-ul-Haq taking charge of the One Day Internationals.

Their first encounter is a Twenty20 match in Bangalore on Christmas Day, followed by another T20 game in Ahmedabad on 28th December.

There then follows three one day internationals - in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi.

Although it was Pakistan's turn to host a bilateral series, India were not keen to play at a neutral venue.

After five years without a bilateral tour, it will not take long for intense rivalries to be re-ignited.