Lucknow: Silencing critics of Indian cricket team's tour of Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today (Feb 22, 2004) said the team was going to play the game and not for a war.

"On Pakistan's invitation, the Indian cricketers are going there to play cricket and not for any war," Vajpayee told reporters.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Shiv Sena is against the tour, saying Pakistan is yet to stop cross-border terrorism.