There should be one or two bilateral series between India and Pakistan each year: Waqar Younis

Kohli alongside Rizwan and Babar [PC: Twitter]

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face each other in match 2 of the Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. For several years now, the two teams have played only in multi-national events like the World Cups and Asia Cup.

The last time the two neighbouring countries played a bilateral series was in January 2013 which included two T20Is and three ODIs. Due to stained political relations between India and Pakistan, they have not played any bilateral series in the last nine years.

Some opine that limited matches is what makes the rivalry between the two countries exciting. Some others feel that bilateral series between the two should restart. 

Giving his opinion on the same, former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis told cricket.one, 

“If India-Pakistan happens weekly, it will lose its charm. I don’t believe that Ashes is the best cricket. The games played in England are definitely top class but there is nothing better than India playing Pakistan. So I feel, there should be one or two bilateral series every year.”

Head to head stats

Sachin against Pakistan in 2003 World Cup

The two teams have played 132 ODI matches in the past, of which Pakistan have 73 wins and India have won 55 matches. In the shortest format, the two teams have met only nine times, with India coming out on top seven times. In red-ball cricket, India and Pakistan have clashed 59 times, with Pakistan winning 12 games and India 9. 38 games were drawn.

Both the teams boast of strong squads for their upcoming Asia Cup clash. But Pakistan have played only a solitary T20I this year, which was in April, and thus do not have enough game practice going into the marquee clash.