ISLAMABAD: The Victorian government and the Melbourne Cricket Club have made inquiries to Cricket Australia about hosting a neutral Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, cricket news website ESPNcricinfo confirmed on Thursday.
An India-Pakistan cricket clash is a spectacle for millions around the globe, especially cricket fans in the two South Asian countries. Political tensions remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors—who have fought three wars over the past seven decades—which means the two countries only play each other in international tournaments and at neutral venues.
Pakistan and India last squared off in front of over 90,000 fans at the MCG in October during the ICC T20 World Cup. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli inspired India to a four-wicket last-ball victory which Pakistan looked set to win earlier on.
However, as far as Test matches are concerned, Pakistan and India last faced each other in 2007. The two countries have not played bilateral cricket with each other since. They have, however, played each other at the World Cup, the Asia Cup and other international cricket tournaments.
After the success of the T20 World Cup fixture between the two sides, MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox revealed that the club, as well as the Victoria government, had made an inquiry to CA about hosting a neutral Test between India and Pakistan.
"Absolutely. Three [Tests] in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You'd fill it every time. We have asked," Fox said on SEN radio. "We've taken that up with Cricket Australia. I know the [Victoria] government has as well. Again, it's enormously complicated from what I can understand, amongst a really busy schedule. So I think that's probably the greater challenge."
He hoped Cricket Australia would take the issue up with the ICC and "keep pushing it."
"When you do see some of the stadiums around the world unoccupied, I think it would be much better to have a full house and that atmosphere and celebrating the game with full houses," he said.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo that the decision to play neutral matches was up to the cricket boards of India and Pakistan. However, he confirmed there would be "some interest" from Cricket Australia to host a neutral game at a venue in the country if the two boards agreed.
"It would be up to the two countries to agree," the spokesperson said. "But if there was to be a Test between India and Pakistan on neutral territory, we would of course be interested in the opportunity to host it in Australia," he added.
Fox said the supporters of the two countries who witnessed the action live during the World Cup at the MCG were amazing.
"I've never seen anything like it at the MCG, that India-Pakistan game was something else," Fox said. "The atmosphere, I've never felt it like that. The noise after every ball was just phenomenal and the families and children and everyone enjoying it.
