Indian and Pakistan Under-19 players make a statement for their futures

A diplomatic incident occurred at the ICC Under-19 World Cup today between the Indian and Pakistan sides - but it was not the sort of incident to cause antagonism or shame.

It was a moment of pride, for both countries, as they put aside the differences being experienced on the Kashmir frontier.

It was a moment of joy, as the two teams went into a marquee at the ground after the game and embraced, each player, manager, fitness trainer, the works.

It was a statement for the moment, and it was a vision for the future, as the players who will surely be competitors again, if the politicians can allow two of the most competitive nations in the cricket world to play each other, when cricket ties between the two are normalised.

They had each just played a rattling good competitive game. It was won by Pakistan by two wickets, but India also triumphed as they have qualified for the semi-finals.

There was tension on the field, but there was delight also that the spirit in which the game was played was outstanding.

Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who had led his side to victory with an unbeaten 85 summed it up afterwards when he said the players taking part in the match did not want the problems associated with the border tensions.

"We don't want this, this is our game.

"We are not at the border, we are not at the war.

"We are going to play at the next level of the game against each other. We want to play in a brotherly manner," he said.

The Pakistan manager Brigadier Javed Tipu said at the beginning of the day he had approached the Indian management to see if representatives from one side could address the others to point out that despite whatever else might be happening, they were here to play a game of cricket and that it should be played in the best traditions of the game.

"After mutual consultation it was decided we should each speak to our own boys and that after the match we could get together," he said.

"We love our cricket on the sub-continent, in Pakistan, in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"Cricket is the game of the future and I feel cricket's future is more in Asia," he said.

"These boys are the future of Indian and Pakistan cricket. Most of our players in these teams go on to represent the national side and they will face each other, hopefully, in tournaments many times in the future.

"We wanted them to make friends and to be on friendly terms because they played each other.

"Cricket should be kept away from politics, unfortunately we have not been able to do that.

"We hope and pray that today's match is the beginning of coming back to normal cricket relations between our two countries," he said.