New Delhi: Can we finally see arch-rivals India and Pakistan play a bilateral series? Cricket Australia (CA) has said it is open to hosting a series between the two arch-rivals in the country. Despite sharing one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport, India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for more than a decade due to political tensions between the two nations.
The two teams last played a bilateral series against each other in 2013 when Pakistan toured India for a white-ball assignment. India and Pakistan have since squared off against each other only in ICC tournaments. Several cricket boards have offered to host a bilateral series between the two teams, but it has not materialised.
Cricket Australia has also expressed interest in hosting an India-Pakistan series in the past. CEO Nick Hockley once again reiterated that CA will be open to helping in any way possible to facilitate a series between India and Pakistan on Aussie soil. However, he insisted the final decision remains on the cricket boards of the two countries.
“Alongside the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, this (India vs Pakistan) is the rivalry in world cricket that everyone wants to see. In terms of a bilateral series between the two countries, that’s a matter for their respective boards. However, we are open to facilitating or helping in any way,” Hockley said in an online press conference on Wednesday.
India and Pakistan recently locked horns in the T20 World Cup 2024 where Rohit Sharma & Co. defeated Pakistan by 6 runs in a low-scoring thriller in New York. While Pakistan bowed out of the tournament from the group stage, India went on to lift the trophy after beating South Africa in the final on June 29.
Indian fans excited for Border-Gavaskar trophy 2024-25
CA CEO Hockley also revealed that the board has received an amazing response from Indian fans after putting the tickets for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 on sale. India will be travelling to Australia for a five-match Test series in December this year. India have won their last two Test series in Australia and will be hoping to make it three series wins in a row.
“For next summer, it’s a very full schedule. We’ve announced the fixtures and tickets are on sale. We are amazed by the level of interest, particularly from fans in India. The number of tickets bought by Indian fans is six times higher than the highest previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. We expect incredible support for that series,” said Hockley.
India are the only Asian team to have won a Test series in Australia. They achieved the feat when the Virat Kohli-led team won the series 2-1 in 2018-19. India clinched their second successive Test series win in Australia under skipper Ajinkya Rahane in 2021-22.
Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Nick Hockley has said he is open to help in any way in organising a bilateral series between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Australia. India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket against each other since 2013. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
