Indian, Pakistani premiers hold court for cricket

The prime ministers of India and Pakistan will mix politics with pleasure in joining tens of thousands of cricket fans in a north Indian stadium to watch a seminal match between their rival nations.

The attendance of India's Manmohan Singh and Pakistan's Yousuf Gilani at the World Cup semifinal coincides with a resumption in talks toward restoring trust between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

The meeting gives Gilani and Singh a chance to speak candidly on a range of tense issues without the pressure of public expectations, as all eyes across South Asia are focused on Wednesday's cricket clash.

Singh will also host a dinner for Gilani after the match in Mohali, in the border state of Punjab.

It is Gilani's first visit to India as prime minister.