Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri have backed the blockbuster test fixture between India and Pakistan at the iconic MCG in Australia. The match will be one of the most-watched games in the history of the sport. The neighbouring nations haven’t played test cricket in the last 15 years.
As of now, all the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan are suspended due to political and security reasons. The arch-rivals do not play any bilateral series against each other and only take on each other during ICC events or the Asia Cup.
Speaking to the media, Wasim Akram ruined the lack of test matches between India and Pakistan in the last 15 years, as feels that MCG would be the perfect venue to host a game between the two nations if they manage to qualify for the World Test Championship final in the future.
“The only regret I had when I played cricket is I started playing Test cricket against Sachin (Tendulkar) the great man when he was 16. He made his debut against us in Pakistan. And then we didn’t play a Test series for 10 years,” Wasim Akram said.
“We played one-dayers in between in Sharjah or Toronto, but no Test cricket for 10 years. We played the next Test match in 1999. I hope these teams don’t go through this”.
“I think the MCG as you saw in the last World Cup would be the perfect venue. Pakistan would also be an ideal venue if India wants, but if India wants a neutral venue, then I think Australia would be an ideal place,” Wasim Akram added.
The India-Pakistan games in cricket are one of the most anticipated matches in the cricket team across any format of the game, as it offer many memories for fans worldwide. The last game between India and Pakistan in MCG turned out to be a memorable one, as India won the game in a thrilling encounter in the final over of the game.
The MCG Would Be An Option If There Was No Solution – Ravi Shastri
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri feels that the India-Pakistan games are one of the greatest contests in the world citing the example of a historic game in Melbourne, where Virat Kohli’s heroics helped the team to come over the top, and feels that the bilaterals series can be played only in home soil and reckons that MCG can host the World Test Championship final if both the nations manage to reach the final of the WTC.
“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 I was commentating on it and it was huge.”
“The fact of the matter is if India and Pakistan play again bilaterally they will play it at home. Let’s make that clear. 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,’’ Ravi Shastri said.
The rivalry between the two neighbouring nations has come a long way as it carries a lot of emotions on and off the field between the citizens of both countries. Rohit Sharma-led side will take on Pakistan in the group stage of the Asia Cup 2023 in Kandy.