'When cricketers from other countries come to India, not only Pakistan, it is our duty to protect them. We will discuss and provide best possible security. We are going to be very alert,' the Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said at the margins of the day 'EAS-India Workshop 2012 on Building Regional Framework for Earthquake Risk Management' hereon Thursday when asked about Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's threat.

He said that sports and politics should not be mixed as the cricket series will pave the way for improving bilateral ties between the two neighbours. He vowed no compromise will be made on security arrangements for Pakistani cricketers and spectators

'We should not mix sports and culture with politics. There should be different views. This series will pave the way for the revival of better ties between the two countries,' he said.

When asked about Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik's proposed visit to India for operationalisation of the new India-Pakistan visa pact, Shinde said when he met Malik in Rome on the sidelines of the Interpol General Assembly meeting and the Pakistani leader conveyed that he may come on November 22 0r 23.

'We are yet to finalise the dates. We will give our response. They will also give their response. Then the dates will be finalised,' he said.

The India-Pakistan cricket series would comprise three one day internationals (ODIs) and two T20 Internationals between December 2012 and January 2013.

The ODI matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi and the T20 games in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

Cricket ties between the two countries were snapped following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The two countries have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007.

Cricket has boosted the relationship between the two neighbours. The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had invited the then Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the high-profile World Cup semi-final in Mohali last year.

Shinde said the limited over cricket series should not be mixed with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which was carried out by Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT.