“We must go to each other's countries,” Saeed Ajmal calls for resumption of bilateral series between India and Pakistan

India and Pakistan last played bilateral cricket in 2012-13.

The cricket world has been deprived of the fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan because of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

India haven't played Pakistan in bilateral cricket since a home limited-overs series in 2012, with their last meeting in Tests dating back to 2007. In this period, they've only clashed in multi-nation tournaments such as the World Cup and the Asia Cup.

Considering the political relationship between the two countries, an India versus Pakistan bilateral series does not look anywhere close to the horizon.

Meanwhile, former off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has advocated for the bilateral contest between India and Pakistan, citing that there is a lot of love between the two nations.

"Even if the India versus Pakistan match happens on the moon, it will be huge. There is a lot of love between India and Pakistan and we must go to each other's countries," said Ajmal on the sidelines of GloFans High School Cricket Cup launch that will take place in Sharjah and Ajman in November.

Ajmal represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs and 64 T20Is, picking up 178 wickets, 184 wickets and 85 scalps respectively.

The 46-year-old also expressed concerns about the future of Test cricket with the emergence of various T20 leagues across the world.

"There is a need to promote long format (Test) cricket. The ones who play the longest format can play any other format."

Ajmal showered rich praise on the leading batters of the current era. "I like Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Babar Azam, and Rohit Sharma, they are good players."

He also lauded India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who won the Player-of-the-Tournament in the recently held ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. "Bumrah is very intelligent bowler and intelligence is required with speed," he concluded.

(With IANS Inputs)