How often should India and Pakistan play each other?

[Zainub]

Aaah, finally someone has the same concerns as me. I'm glad the BCCI and PCB have brought this issue up. I'm thinking something on the lines of the Ashes (a five test match and five match ODI series, or a triangular series if you want) once every 2 years will be just about perfect.

[Paoli]

Once every two years, about right.

[Zainub]

Aparently 77.76% off 1484 respondents at the National Cricket Pakistan website thought Pakistan should play India once every year.

[Maranello]

Forget the trivial ODIs, India and Pakistan should play a three Test series every year, would only a take a month or so if done properly. The other preferred alternative is for use to play a five (or even six) Test series every other year, which would be the way it should be done. However, I really don't see PCB ever playing a Test series longer than three Tests, sometimes I think it can only count to three? Hence, as a second-choice solution, a three Test series every 12 months; but please, no silly ODIs every few months, that just devalues the whole thing.

[Occasional Fan]

Is there time in the calendar for an annual test series, Maranello? Given the ICC requirements, I'd guess it would be pretty tight, given that both India and Pakistan have to play tests against the other eight nations on a fixed cycle. I haven't looked in detail at their calendars, but presumably they would be just as crowded as England's, and I can't see how England could upgrade any of their present commitments from the present frequency to annual (other than by shortening series, which I would not want to see).

[Maranello]

To be honest, I am not sure about fixture congestion OF. However, Pakistan and India both have a much lighter workload in terms of Tests than England or Australia, as we generally play a lot of two or three Test series when England's typical Test series is four or five Tests. The last time Pakistan played a five Test series was probably back in 1992, when Javed Miandad led us to a memorable series win against England, and that was one of the best series I have ever seen.

Hence there is time in the fixture list for three additional Tests, at least from a Pakistani view-point. Sure, there are a few meaningless ODI tournaments Pakistan is signed up for (but we do not have to participate in them anyway), but not that many proper Test commitments over the next few years; plenty of large gaps in the scehdule.

[Occasional Fan]

Yes, the games differ between the sub-continent and England in that respect - much more emphasis placed on the ODI format in India and Pakistan, as I understand. I suspect that that would also hold sway, though, if the two countries arranged annual series - i.e. the annual meetings would be much more likely to be ODIs than Tests. That's not to object to the idea if that's what the customers want in that part of the world, of course.

[vvvrulz]

I think at the moment, they are seeing a little too much of each other, and its killing off the hunger for their contests. It should be more like the ashes, or an ICC-Knockout trophy, something to truly savour.

[Zainub]

If the PCB can't count pass three, they should learn how to. Seems completely illogical to me that arguably the most intense contest in cricket should not have a conventional five test series, and worse still have just 3 tests followed by 6 or 7 ODIs. And that too all cramped up in a space of 45 odd days. That's just plain madness. M, if you're thinking the PCB or BCCI will every organise a 3 test series only with no ODIs, please dream on, that will never happen, if Pakistan and India play each other every year, they will most probably play 3 test and a ridiculous number of ODIs. We have to keep in mind that the Asia Cup is also held every 2nd year. So we play a few matches there as well. I like the Asia Cup, it intensifies the local rivalries, I hate for us to lose to Sri Lanka, so I don't want that competetion to be strucked off or become any less important. If Pakistan and India play each other very year, plus have the Asia Cup every 2nd year, then we'll end up playing each other far too often in a small space of time. So, here's my idea: Pakistan and India should play each other for a five test and five (no more no less) ODI series every 2 year. The Asia Cup should be held in the gap year. If we implemented this plan from next year, there should be no Ind-Pak series next year. The five year plan would then look like this

Jul-Aug 2006 - Asia Cup (where let's say Pakistan will play India for something like 3 to 4 times)
Jan-Mar 2007 - Ind-Pak series (5 tests, 5 ODIs)
Jul-Aug 2008 - Asia Cup
Jan-Mar 2009 - Ind-Pak series
Jul-Aug 2010 - Asia Cup
Jan Mar 2011 - Ind-Pak series

In this way over a five year period we will play a total of 15 tests and 24 to 27 ODIs.So the average for a 12 month period will be 3 tests and 5 ODIs ...which is I what I presume what you want too M? It's just that this way the cricket will be a little bit spread out, so as VVV says everyone will be able to truly savour it.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by vvvrulz

I think at the moment, they are seeing a little too much of each other, and its killing off the hunger for their contests. It should be more like the ashes, or an ICC-Knockout trophy, something to truly savour.

I agree, it could be a three test series one a year for 4 years, then like you say, a 5 match series every 2 years to match the Ashes series.