A big news is coming for the cricket fans of India and Pakistan. The International Cricket Council i.e. ICC is reportedly exploring the possibility of organizing a tri- or four-nation series involving India and Pakistan. According to Pakistani media reports, this issue can be discussed in the ICC seminar to be held in Dubai on 22 and 23 September. In this meeting, discussions are expected on the Future Tours Program i.e. FTP and International Cricket program for the year 2027 to 2031.
According to reports, ICC is again considering increasing the multinational cricket tournament. Tri series were very popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. ICC believes that such a tournament can generate more income than a normal bilateral series. Pakistan has long been expressing its desire to play more matches against India apart from ICC and Asian Cricket Council tournaments. However, due to political relations between the two countries, bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been closed for a long time.
No bilateral series took place after 2013
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was played in the year 2013. After this, both the teams have faced each other only in multinational events like ICC tournaments, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. The last tri-series involving India and Pakistan was the Kitply Cup played in Bangladesh in 2008. If ICC’s new proposal is accepted, it can prove to be a big change for cricket fans.
India-Pakistan clash may take place in a neutral country
According to the report, a possible tri- or four-nation series involving India and Pakistan can be organized in United Arab Emirates, England or Australia. There is already an option to hold the match between the two teams in a neutral country. However, the stand of the Board of Control for Cricket in India i.e. BCCI and the Government of India on this proposal will be most important. The Indian government has been giving permission to play against Pakistan in multinational tournaments, but the bilateral series has not been approved. In such a situation, a tri- or four-nation series could be a new option for ICC, but the final decision will depend on the consent of the Government of India and BCCI.