The prospect of another Pakistan-India cricket contest has gained momentum, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly considering a tri-nation or four-team series featuring the arch-rivals as part of efforts to explore commercially attractive multi-nation competitions
The proposal is expected to receive attention at the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) seminar, scheduled for September 22 and 23 in Dubai. Representatives of all 12 Test-playing nations and eight Associate members are expected to participate in the discussions. The sources said the meeting could examine whether multi-nation ODI or T20I series can generate stronger commercial returns than conventional bilateral contests. Under the possible format, Pakistan and India would be joined by one or two additional teams, potentially creating a high-profile tournament with considerable broadcasting, sponsorship and audience appeal.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has advocated such an arrangement for several years, repeatedly proposing a tri-series or four-nation event involving India. The idea has gained renewed relevance because bilateral cricket between the two neighbours remains suspended amid longstanding political tensions. Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2013. Since then, their encounters have been restricted largely to multi-nation competitions staged by the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council, where matches between the two sides consistently attract enormous global attention.
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A multi-nation format could therefore offer a practical avenue for maintaining the rivalry without requiring a return to regular bilateral cricket. Indian media reports have suggested that New Delhi has fewer reservations about Pakistan-India matches taking place within multi-team tournaments than about bilateral series. However, any Pakistan-India cricket engagement remains subject to government approval in both countries. Consequently, an ICC-backed multi-nation competition may prove more feasible than an immediate revival of bilateral cricket.
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If the proposal gains support, neutral venues including the United Arab Emirates, England or Australia could be considered for staging the tournament. With the Pakistan-India rivalry among cricket’s most commercially valuable match-ups, the ICC’s deliberations could open a new route for the two sides to meet more frequently without directly addressing the unresolved bilateral impasse.
Source: www.nation.com.pk
