‘When a team like Australia can tour Pakistan, why not India?’

NEW DELHI: It’s been quite some time since fans last witnessed a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan. The last such instance was 2012-13. The two teams have only faced each other in multi-nation tournaments since then, like the Asia Cup and ICC events. The absence of regular India-Pakistan matches has left fans yearning for the return of those thrilling encounters.
Recently, Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley expressed interest in hosting an India-Pakistan bilateral series in Australia.But that didn’t find much interest among the two boards.
In the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup, the two nations clashed in a group-stage match in New York, with India securing a narrow six-run victory. Rohit Sharma’s Indian team went on to win the trophy, while the then captain Babar Azam’s Pakistan got eliminated in the group stage.
The last time Pakistan hosted India was in 2005-06, where Pakistan won the three-match Test series 1-0, while India claimed the ODI series with a 4-1 margin.
Pakistan have hosted teams from Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies in the past few years. It has led to former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal questioning the BCCI, asking why India cannot travel to Pakistan when teams like Australia have done so.
“India vs Pakistan matches bring fans together. That’s why it’s known as the mother of all clashes. We toured India several times—in 2004, 2007, and 2011. We received so much love from India and a lot of support. There’s no doubt that a home team always gets support from its home crowd, but we also got the same kind of support. Indian fans showered us with love whenever the Pakistan team, including me, stepped out of the hotel room, I mean, off the field. If any team wants to play good cricket or enjoy the game, please visit India. Indian fans are the best in the world,” Akmal told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
“Similarly, Pakistan fans love Indian cricketers. Whenever India traveled to Pakistan, our fans greeted them with smiles. Virender Sehwag has spoken about the love he received in Pakistan many times. Dada (Sourav Ganguly) has also talked a lot about his love for Pakistan fans. Our fans support the Indian team just as they support the Pakistan team. We all want the India vs Pakistan bilateral series to happen. We are missing the India vs Pakistan series,” he said.
Akmal was part of the Pakistan cricket team that toured India in 2005, 2007 and 2013. He played against India when Pakistan hosted them in 2004 and 2006.
“I consider myself lucky that I traveled to India and played several series, both home and away. I really enjoyed those times. India should travel to Pakistan, and Pakistan should go to India. Let’s keep the political matters aside and play and love cricket,” Akmal said.
“When a team like Australia can visit Pakistan, why not India? The India-Pakistan bilateral series should happen. Both governments need to sit and talk. This will benefit cricket,” he said.
India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February-March is also in doubt, owing to the tense political relations between the two countries.
“Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab Champions Trophy ki baatein kar rahe hain. Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? (first you took away the Asia Cu from Pakistn, now taliing about Champions Trophy, why?)…Pakistan has done a lot of hard work to bring cricket back to the country. If India invites Pakistan, our government will never stop us. They will say, ‘Go and play.’ The Indian government should do the same. Let’s keep politics aside and play cricket,” Akmal added.
‘PAKISTAN PLAYERS IN IPL’
Pakistan players have been barred from the Indian Premier (IPL) League due to political tensions between the two nations
In the inaugural IPL season, some top Pakistani cricketers, including Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, and Sohail Tanvir, showcased their talent.
Tanvir also emerged as the leading wicket-taker in 2008. However, after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, IPL banned Pakistani players.
“BCCI has its own rules. If the bilateral series resumes, the debate about Pakistan players not playing in the IPL will also end. If you don’t want to give us a chance in the IPL, that’s fine with us. We don’t need it. We are not worrying about those lines. We have our own PSL (Pakistan Super League). I know PSL can’t match IPL in terms of facilities and finances, but let’s play international cricket,” Kamran said.