India and Pakistan teams in frame | PC- X.com
The India vs Pakistan rivalary has been the backbone of cricket in monetary terms, especially in recent times.
Although the two Asian giants don't play each other in bilateral series, they only exclusive feature against each other either in ICC white-ball events or the Asia Cup. However, the ongoing practice may come to an end soon.
Basit Ali spills beans on IND vs PAK's comeback in next WTC cycle
Pakistan's former batter-turned-pundit, Basit Ali, has shed light on a major development, with the ICC looking at options to revive the IND vs PAK bilateral cricket series.
As per the renowned Pakistani international, there is a 50-50 chance of the two nations clashing in the next World Championship Cycle, starting in 2027. However, it is said that India and Pakistan won't visit each other, and the Test matches will be played at a neutral venue.
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"There are 50-50 percent chances of Pakistan and India clashing in the next round of the 2027 Test Championship. The ICC can talk to both boards and the matches can be held at a neutral venue in a third country," Basit Ali stated on his YouTube channel.
ICC's masterstroke to expand 2027 WC for more IND vs PAK games
Basit Ali's claims are a farsighted theory, with no official word coming from the ICC or the two boards. That said, the ICC recently rejigged the format of the next ODI World Cup to accommodate more IND vs PAK matches.
With India vs Pakistan being the most-followed rivalry in the sport, the ICC wants to cash in on it by expanding the format, which would guarantee at least two matches between the two Asian Giants.
As per the latest format, in Round 1, the lowest three-seeded teams will play to proceed to Round 2, where 12 teams will be at loggerheads to finish in the top seven. Then, in Round 3, the seven advancing teams play a round-robin format before the semifinals.
It means if both India and Pakistan qualify for the knockouts, there could be three matches in a single World Cup between the two powerhouses.
INDO-PAK cricket taking the hit due to geopolitical tensions
Due to the geopolitical differences between the two countries, the cricketing relationship between the two boards has taken a back seat. India and Pakistan last contested a bilateral series more than a decade ago, in 2012. Moreover, the last Test match between them dates back to December 2007 in Bengaluru.
Since then, both the BCCI and the PCB have tried their best to revive IND vs PAK bilaterals, but they have failed on all the occasions.
There was the similar sense of tension back in the the 90s, when the two powerhouses didn’t tour each other for nearly 10 years due to escalating geopolitical tensions and security fears.
Although the two played each other regularly in the East in multiple-nation tournaments, the revival came with the 1999 tour of India, when the Wasim Akram-led Pakistan visited for a multi-format series.
It would be interesting to see if the Jay Shah-led ICC could turn some magic in another revival of INDO-PAK cricket.
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