Lucknow: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Feb 23, 2004) expressed confidence that the Indian cricket team's tour of Pakistan would help improve relations with the neighbouring country, but cautioned against linking the series with the Kashmir imbroglio.

"A decision was taken to improve relations with Pakistan and the proposed cricket matches there will play an important role in this direction," Vajpayee said in Lucknow after inaugurating a sub-centre of Sports Authority of India (SAI).

However, addressing a press conference, he said, "Match aur Kashmir samasya ko saath saath na jodein (Match and the Kashmir problem should not be linked to each other)."

When asked what would follow the cricket series, he replied, "We shall tell you this after the series."

At the SAI sub-centre, Vajpayee said all steps had been taken to remove security concerns of the cricketers during the Pakistan tour and further measures, if needed, would also be taken in future.

He said the best wishes of all the countrymen would be with the Indian cricketers touring Pakistan. "When sportsmen play on the field, the whole nation stands behind them."

Asking the players to play with all their mite in the right spirit, the Prime Minister said both the sides wanted their team to win, but pointed out that the game was more important than winning or losing.

The Prime Minister said he often watches cricket matches, but finds that despite playing well, the team loses sometimes.

"There is a need to develop the mentality for winning and go full strength into the game," he said.

Vajpayee said in the recent past, there have been improvements in Indian sports and mentioned the performance of national players in some international tournaments.

"The recent encouraging results have shown that there is some improvement in sports, but the trend should be maintained and good sportspersons should be selected and provided proper training," he said.

Vajpayee said in the 10th Plan, sports allocation had been hiked five times.

He said besides science and geography, sports had helped in bringing the world and together therefore, the country should not lag behind in this field.

In present times, sporting disciplines were playing an important role in determining ties among nations, the Prime Minister said, while underlining the need for better training so that players can imbibe the fighting spirit and win.