'No plans of India-Pakistan Test series anywhere'

A source from the Board of Control of Cricket in India has revealed that the apex cricket governing body in the country is not planning to host a Test series between India and Pakistan.

"No such plans for India and Pakistan Test series in future or in any country. If someone has such kind of wish keep it to yourself," a BCCI source told ANI.

Various cricket boards have shown interest in conducting the much-awaited Test match. The latest addition to the list is Australia after Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) chief executive Stuart Fox made an enquiry to Cricket Australia (CA) about hosting the Test at Melbourne.

According to ESPNcricinfo, MCC chief executive Stuart Fox spoke on SEN radio on day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa and said that the club, as well as the Victoria government, had made an inquiry with CA about hosting a neutral Test.

Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan were suspended in 2008.

It has been nearly 16 years since India and Pakistan played a Test match – they last played a Test match against each other in 2007 and the last international bilateral series between the two teams was held in 2013.

As per ESPNcricinfo, following the success of the T20 World Cup 2022 match between India and Pakistan in October, the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Victorian government made informal inquiries to Cricket Australia (CA) about hosting a Test match series between India and Pakistan in Melbourne.

Fox stated that the MCC would love to host the two countries in Test cricket after 90,293 fans packed into the MCG last month to watch the last-ball thriller in the prestigious T20 world cup.

"Absolutely. Three [Tests] in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You'd fill it every time. We have asked. We've taken that up with Cricket Australia. I know the [Victoria] government has as well. Again, it's enormously complicated from what I can understand, amongst a really busy schedule. So I think that's probably the greater challenge," ESPNcicinfo quoted Fox as saying.

"Wouldn't it be great that it wasn't just Australia-centric and Victoria-centric, that we're catering for all the countries and filling the stadium all the time. So we have asked. Hopefully, Cricket Australia keep taking it up with the ICC and keep pushing for it. 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," he further added.

On the Future Tours Programme between 2023 and 2027, no bilateral cricket matches were scheduled between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is scheduled to host Asia Cup next year and ODI World Cup will be held in India, there is no official word about the travel plans of the two teams.