India-Pakistan cricket match rivalry cannot be anything new to a cricket fan. The two neighbours have been hard nosed rivals in cricket for almost more than 3 decades.
The fans would have loved some bilateral series between bith cricket playing countries but that hasn’t been the case, India-Pakistan matches only take place in big tournaments, which means the setup is unlikely that both nations come against each other either in Pakistan or India.
An India-Pakistan match has the potential to become the most watched sporting event in the world and having that in perspective, cricket greats, Waseem Akram and Ravi Shastri, have been hoping that two countries face each other once again at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Last time India and Pakistan came against each other in a match was back in 2022 at the MCG and more than 90,000 spectators witnessed the historic T20 World Cup match.
Former great Pakistani bowler Waseem Akram has said that the only regret of his life has been to not see two greatest rivals in cricket not playing against each other as often as they should have in an ideal cricketing world. If politics can put aside, the rivalry can be stored back in the form high intensity cricket matches.
Akram pushed the talk of Melbourne Cricket Ground hosting an India-Pakistan test match. “I think the MCG as you saw in the last World Cup would be the perfect venue. It’s the whole thing with the MCG. The sheer magnitude of the ground, the spectators, the security, the place itself brings a lot of confidence in you as a player if you play at the G,” Akram said.
On the other hand, Ravi Shastri, former Indian allrounder, thinks that the MCG and ICC should push both nations to play test matches against each other. “India-Pakistan is the mother, father and grandfather of all contests. The G witnessed one of the great contests with 90,000 people there for the recent T20 World Cup when India and Pakistan played and I was commentating on it and it was huge’’ Shastri said.
“The MCG would be an option if there was no solution and the boards agreed to it. If the MCG ever hosted the World Test Championship and India and Pakistan were in it would just happen and what an occasion that would be … let’s hope it does happen.’’
Indian and Pakistan last played against each other in a test match back in 2007-08 when Pakistan toured India for 3 match test series and 5 match ODI series. Since then because of hostilities generated by politics, both countries have pushed into a stalemate.
India and Pakistan will meet in Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday. Then both countries play in India at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad after 8 years, last meeting took place at Eden Gardens during 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
