Pakistan to propose annual T20 quad-series to ICC in bid to revive India rivalry

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja is set to propose to the International Cricket Council an annual quadrangular Twenty20 series involving India, Pakistan, England and Australia in a bid to get India and Pakistan to play regular international cricket matches against each other, international media reported on Tuesday.

India last hosted Pakistan in a bilateral series in 2013 and the teams now meet only in global tournaments, the last being the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup's Super 12 match in Dubai in which Pakistan bagged a thumping 10-wicket win.

The nuclear-armed neighbors have gone to war three times since gaining independence from British colonial rule in the mid-20th century and remain at loggerheads over Kashmir.

“I have a good mind of proposing a rugby Six Nations-style series that they have a cricket series, a T20 international series outside the FTP [Future Tours Programme] where Australia, England, India and Pakistan can play. Four sides,” Raja said in an interview with Code Sports Australia. “I was thinking of maybe introducing this concept at the ICC meeting.

“If India and Pakistan are not willing to play bilaterally, involve them in a four nation [event], and so every year this tournament could go to England, Australia, Pakistan and India and take it from there. I will [propose it], definitely I will. So this is breaking news,” he added. 

Cricket in Pakistan was dealt a body blow last year when New Zealand cut short their tour citing security concerns, with England then following suit.

The decisions are likely to hamper the country's efforts to persuade top teams to tour and infuriate Pakistan's players.

Australia are due to visit Pakistan for three Tests, three one day internationals and one T20 international starting in early March. Cricket Australia are committed to the tour going ahead, the first visit of the Aussie side to the country since 1998.