The England and Wales Cricket Board has offered to play host to future India-Pakistan test matches as a neutral venue.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has offered to play host to future India-Pakistan test matches as a neutral venue. The England Cricket Board has offered to be an unbiased site for the upcoming Pakistan-India Test series so that both countries can look forward to playing bilateral cricket for the first time in more than 15 years. Martin Darlow, the vice chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has talked with the Pakistan Cricket Board during the current T20I series. He has offered England’s grounds as possible sites for a three-match Test series in the future.
IND-PAK rivalry
When India plays Pakistan, a lot of people show up to watch. It was also seen during the recent Asia Cup 2022 games. ECB came up with the idea because there are a lot of people from South Asia living in the UK, where the games would be held. When the two teams played each other in the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2011, 495 million people watched on TV.
Due to political tensions, India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series in a long time. The last time the Pakistani team went to India was in 2007. Also, Pakistani players can’t play in the IPL. If IPL owners buy teams in other leagues, this could happen in more places.
Disappointment for Pakistan
The fact that Indians own teams in many leagues around the world is a disappointment to the Pakistan players. For example, Pakistan players aren’t in the South Africa T20 league in February because the teams are owned by people from India. This raises questions about how much private money can affect such leagues.
Neutral fields – a blessing
But in this case, it seems like it would be more politically acceptable for both countries to play on a neutral field. Even though PCB doesn’t want to play India at a neutral site, they have thanked the ECB for the offer, which shows that the relationship between the two boards is getting stronger.
PCB is also trying to make cricket more open by getting teams to tour their own country again after a decade. But if you wanted to play against India in a bilateral series, even on a neutral ground, they would need permission from many different people.
Government – an important factor
It might not be up to the cricket boards of both countries alone since a bilateral Test series might not happen until the government and political climate in the countries change.
No matter how the two countries’ governments behave, the cricket boards and players of both countries get along well. But Pakistan has a lot of money problems because it doesn’t play India. For instance, England and Australia make more money when they play India than when they play the Ashes. This shows what Pakistan is missing out on.
The money factor
England and Pakistan play cricket together very well, but Pakistan’s matches against countries don’t make much money. In 2010, Pakistan and Australia played two Tests at Lord’s and Headingley. However, the series did not make a lot of money. So Yorkshire gave up an England Test against Bangladesh so they could host Pakistan-Australia. Still, they didn’t sell enough tickets and lost money.
In this case, the matches between Pakistan and India will be perfect for England as well. This is because when India is involved, it is easier to sell tickets, especially for games in London and Birmingham. But if India and Pakistan agree to play matches there, Edgbaston is thought to be the best place to do so.