The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has expressed interest in staging a Test match between India and Pakistan at the MCG.
Earlier this year, the iconic venue successfully organized the marquee T20 World Cup clash between the two arch-rivals. The game was witnessed by over 90,000 spectators.
MCC and the Victoria government have recently inquired with Cricket Australia (CA) about the possibility of hosting the high-profile Test.
“Absolutely. Three (Tests) in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You’d fill it every time. We have asked,” MCC chief executive Stuart Fox was quoted as saying by SEN radio.
“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.
“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.”
Fox said it is now up to CA to discuss the matter with the ICC.
“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 celebrating the game with full houses,” he said.
Recalling the atmosphere at MCG during the T20 World Cup 2022 clash between India and Pakistan, Fox said: “I’ve never seen anything like it at the MCG, that India-Pakistan game was something else.”
“The atmosphere, I’ve never felt it like that. The noise after every ball was just phenomenal and the families and children and everyone enjoying it.”
India and Pakistan continue to lock horns in multi-nation tournaments but they haven’t faced each other in a bilateral series since 2012-13 because of political hostility.
While Pakistan last toured India for the T20 World Cup in 2016, India have not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. The last time the two teams played a Test series was way back in 2007.
(With PTI Inputs)
