It was announced in early January 2004 that India would tour Pakistan in March that year.

[1] After India's team management and players expressed security concerns in Pakistan,[2] the Board of Control for Cricket in India sent a three-member team in February to assess the situation and reported that they were "satisfied with the (security) measures being planned by Pakistan".

Yuvraj Singh, rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic circuit, and spinner Anil Kumble and medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar, who recovered from injuries, were included.

Batsmen Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan were dropped, and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was included.

[5] India's captain Sourav Ganguly was ruled out of the side due to an injured back before the First Test.