Basit Ali Urges ICC to Foster India-Pakistan Test Showdown

Ex-Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali calls for an ICC-moderated Test series between India and Pakistan at a neutral venue. Despite sharing a storied cricket rivalry, the two teams haven't played a bilateral series since 2013, only competing in ICC and Asia Cup events since then.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has issued a fervent plea to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the organization of a bilateral Test series between India and Pakistan at a neutral venue, as part of the World Test Championship schedule. The historic rivals last faced each other in a bilateral format from December 2012 to January 2013, with recent encounters limited to ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.

Ali expressed his aspiration for the two cricketing giants to meet in a Test series under the governance of the ICC, suggesting neutral sites such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi. According to him, this initiative would honor the competitive spirit of the sport while transcending political barriers.

The former cricketer's comments come as Pakistan prepares to host the ICC Champions Trophy next year. Sources suggest potential hosting configurations could include matches in Pakistan or under a hybrid model where Dubai might host games involving India and the knockout stages, providing a flexible solution to geopolitical challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)