MELBOURNE: As bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan remain suspended in the long format of the game since 2007, Melbourne is now considering the potential of staging a Test Match between the two nations.
The last time India hosted Pakistan in a bilateral limited-overs series was in 2013. The the pair have only competed against each other at 20- and 50-overs World Cups and the Asia Cup.
Recently the duo enthralled the spectators in Melbourne Cricket Ground with their nail biting competition in Twenty20 World Cup in October. More than 90,000 fans thronged in to watch the traditional rivals.
MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox said the atmosphere at that match showed there would be no problem filling the venue for a test series between the two.
“The atmosphere for that game, I’ve never felt anything like it,” Fox told radio station SEN. “The noise after every ball was phenomenal. Three (tests) in a row would be lovely at the MCG, you’d fill it every time.
“We’ve taken that up with Cricket Australia. I know the (Victoria) government has as well. It’s enormously complicated from what I can understand, amongst a really busy schedule. So I think that’s probably the greater challenge.”
Fox said he hoped Cricket Australia would keep pushing the proposal with the International Cricket Council, the sport’s global governing body.
“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,” Fox added.
