MCC wants India-Pakistan Test series at Melbourne Cricket Ground


image-lc8q604sRohit Sharma and Babar Azam at MCG for T20 World Cup 2022 fixture

India versus Pakistan encounters are always edge-of-the-seat blockbusters - for fans,  broadcasters and hosting authorities as well. Recently, Australia's most celebrated sporting arena - Melbourne Cricket Ground - hosted the fixture between both nations in the T20 World Cup 2022, which saw a mammoth crowd of 90,293 fans.

After the grandeur tournament, Cricket Australia faced distress in bringing in crowds, even for the ODI fold against the arch-rivals England. 

Australia's calendar planning was also questioned by many - which was curtained off when crowds showed up for the Boxing Day Test. However, Melbourne Cricket Club has come up with a solution to host a three-match Test series between India and Pakistan.

While speaking on SEN radio on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa, MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said that the club has inquired about hosting a neutral Test.

"Absolutely. Three Tests in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You'd fill it every time. We have asked. We've taken that up with Cricket Australia. I know the [Victoria] government has as well," the MCC chief mentioned.

"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."

Due to political calamity, the two nations from the sub-continent haven't played a Test series since India hosted Pakistan for a three-match series in 2007. The last time the Men in Blue toured Pakistan was for the Asia Cup 2008, while India hosted their neighbours in 2012-13. 

Since then, both these cricketing nations have only met each other in ICC events and Asia Cups, and a bilateral series is highly unlikely.


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