Since 2007, when bilateral cricket between the neighbours was banned, India and Pakistan have not faced off against one another in the longest format of the game. The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is now investigating the potential of staging a Test match between the two nations.
Since India hosted Pakistan in a bilateral limited-overs series in 2013, the pair have only competed against each other at 20- and 50-over World Cups and the Asia Cup.
The last time they met was at the Twenty-20 World Cup in October. More than 90,000 fans piled into the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch India win a last-ball thriller.
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 Virginia government has as well. From what I can tell, it’s extremely complicated in the midst of a hectic 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 celebrate the game with full houses,” Fox added.
