The cricket world has been deprived of the fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan because of political tension between the two countries. They have not played a bilateral series with each other after 2012-13 when Pakistan had toured India for three T20Is and as many ODIs.
Since then, India and Pakistan have squared off only in the Asia Cup and the ICC events but didn’t clash with one another in the World Test Championship despite it being an ICC tournament.
This year, the arch-rivals will also meet in the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup. While the schedule for the Asia Cup is yet to be announced, the high-voltage India versus Pakistan in the 50-over World Cup will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15.
With less than three months to go for the marquee clash, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has made a rather bizarre remark, claiming that India avoided playing bilateral series against Pakistan from 1997-98 as they would largely be at the receiving end of defeats.
“We share mutual respect and friendship. There's only Indian team that doesn't play against Pakistan. From 1997-98, they didn't play much against us because we were too good, India always used to lose. Now, situation has changed, we are in 2023, but we have to change our thinking. No team is big or small, the performance on the day matters,” Razzaq told EHCricket.
While making an argument for why India and Pakistan should resume bilateral cricketing ties, he added: “Both teams are good. You can't say Pakistan team is weak. You see the Ashes series, can you point out which team is better? The team which performs wins, as simple as that. We have to get out of this and play matches, series against each other.”
Talking about the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, it will be played in India from October 5 to November 19.
For the record, the Men in Green have never defeated the Men in Blue in the history of the ODI World Cup. The two sides have faced each other seven times, with India winning games on all occasions.
