Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has suggested novel idea to resume the bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. He has proposed an annual bilateral series between the two sides, hosted on alternate basis, named ‘Gandhi-Jinnah’ Trophy.
India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral cricket since 2012-13. The two sides last played Tests in 2007, but all cricket stopped after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. India blamed Pakistan for sending trained terrorists on its land and cut off all relations.
Though Pakistan traveled for a white-ball series in 2012, India has not crossed the border since 2006. The two teams face each other only in ICC events and Asia Cup matches now. The BCCI had even refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.
India and Pakistan cricket matches are considered to be one of the biggest spectacles in world cricket. Their recent T20 World Cup 2022 encounter in Melbourne logged record viewership.
It is also a huge money churner for both the boards and in an attempt to resume that cricketing relations, Zaka Ashraf has proposed BCCI to conduct an annual bilateral series between the two teams and named the series the
Speaking to ARY News’ programme ‘Bouncer’, Ashraf expressed ambitions to revive the cricketing relationship between the two countries.
“India bhi ek great cricketing nation hai like Pakistan. Aur main hamesha India ko kehta hoon ki India-Pakistan se bada koi match nahi hai duniya mein. Jab ye dono teams khel rahi ho toh koi naa Ashes uske muqabale mein aata hai, naa koi aur. Balki maine India ko propose kiya tha ki aap ek Gandhi-Jinnah Trophy rakh le. Har alternate year mein hum khele. Ek dafa India mein, ek dafa Pakistan mein. Aur iske jo bhi matches hote hai Ashes ki tareh hum usko karein (I suggested to the BCCI that we should hold a Jinnah-Gandhi trophy),” he said.
Here is the video (Check from 22.58 onwards):
Recently, Ashraf had stirred up controversy by calling India “Dushman Mulk or Enemy nation” while speaking to reporters in Pakistan, while speaking about Pakistani players’ salary hikes.
India and Pakistan are set to play on October 14 in Ahmedabad in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
