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No India-Pakistan encounter in ICC Test Championship?

The last time India played Pakistan in Tests was in December 2007.

Virat Kohli had gifted a bat to Mohammad Aamer during Asia Cup 2016 © Getty Images
Virat Kohli had gifted a bat to Mohammad Aamer during Asia Cup 2016 © Getty Images

The last time India played Pakistan in Tests was in December 2007. Ever since, they have played only one bilateral series. BCCI, in a meeting in Auckland earlier this month, claimed that the Indian government has not been giving them a go-ahead. ICC, however, do not mind featuring India and Pakistan in the Test Champion, but BCCI have made their stand clear on the matter.

Here’s the conundrum

Test Championship will include nine teams. There will be six series, which will have two to five Tests played over 2 years. The top two teams will play the final in England in June 2021 to claim the championship. So, here is the conundrum: what if India and Pakistan qualify for the final?

Quote unquote

Speaking to The Indian Express, a top BCCI official said, “As per the Test championship draft, it says, a Test team has to play with six Test playing nations in four year cycle. So India can play with Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Test championship cycle. It leaves no window for us with Pakistan. The board can’t do anything other than requesting Indian government. The day government gives clearance we are ready to play. At the moment India will not play Pakistan in Test championship.”

Over the past few years, BCCI have been ruling out India-Pakistan series at neutral venues. There were also reports that the board wanted Star as the official broadcaster but the PCB declined. However, the fans have been lucky to witness these teams playing against each other in ICC events.

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