MCC inquires about hosting India-Pakistan Test match
More than 90,000 fans turned out to watch India play Pakistan at the MCG at the Twenty20 World Cup. Photo: AAP
Cricket Australia has supported the Melbourne Cricket Club’s call for a historic Test match between India and Pakistan to be played at the MCG.
The MCC have formally lobbied CA about hosting the famous rivals in what would be their first red-ball match in 15 years, but admit the situation is “complicated”.
India and Pakistan’s pulsating Twenty20 World Cup clash at the ground in October, played in front of 90,293 fans, fuelled hunger for more games between the countries.
Their rivalry has been restricted to major tournaments in modern times, having not played each other in a bilateral series since 2012 due to ongoing political tension between the countries.
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The last Test match between India and Pakistan was way back in December 2007.
MCC boss Stuart Fox said he would “absolutely” love to welcome back India and Pakistan after the extraordinary success of their recent meeting at the MCG.
“The atmosphere for that game, I’ve never felt anything like it,” Fox told SEN.
“The noise after every ball was just phenomenal.
“Three (games) in a row would be lovely at the MCG, you’d fill it every time.
“Wouldn’t it be great if it wasn’t just Australia-centric and Victoria-centric, and that we’re catering for all countries and filling the stadium?
“(However) it’s complicated.
“Hopefully Cricket Australia keep taking it up with the ICC (International Cricket Council) and keep pushing for it.”
CA would be up for bringing India and Pakistan to Australia for a bilateral series as long as the countries agreed to it.
“It would be up to the two countries to agree, 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,” a CA spokesperson told AAP.
“The supporters of the two teams here for the World Cup were amazing and the vast majority of those fans live in Australia.”
Pakistan is scheduled to play at the MCG in next year’s Boxing Day Test, with Fox saying Australia needed to engage better with multicultural fans.
“I’d love to shoot for 91,000 (spectators next December),” Fox said.
“We want them (Pakistan fans) here and it would be fantastic to have a full house day one.”
Ahead of the World Cup match, India legend Ravi Shastri told AAP that 150,000 people would attend a game between the famous rivals if capacity allowed.
-AAP