India and Pakistan set for Test meeting by 2023

India and Pakistan are not set to play each other in the inaugural World Test Championship schedule, commencing next year and running for two years. However, the ICC’s assurance suggest the two rivals will be matched up second time around

^{Pakistan and India met in ODI action at the Asia Cup}

India and Pakistan will meet again in the Test arena in 2021-23, the ICC have promised new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani.

India and Pakistan are not set to play each other in the inaugural World Test Championship schedule, commencing next year and running for two years. However, the ICC’s assurance suggest the two rivals will be matched up second time around in the Championship played in 2021-23.

Speaking from Dubai before India and Pakistan’s clash in the Super Four of the Asia Cup, Mani said: “The Test Championship is apparently in two cycles. For 2019-2021, they have already made the calendar. But I’ve been assured by the ICC that in the second cycle, Pakistan and India will player each other.”

India and Pakistan have not met on the cricket field in a bilateral context since 2007.

^{Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani}

Since then encounters between the two cricket-mad countries have been contained to international tournaments, most notably in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup in Mohali and in the final of last year’s Champions’ Trophy at the Kia Oval. The two have met twice at the 2018 Asia Cup, with a third meeting in the final on Friday a possibility.

The restoration of workable Indo-Pakistan relations took a real hit on Saturday, when Pakistan’s new prime minister, cricketing legend Imran Khan, lashed out on Twitter over India’s cancellation of a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers, citing the abduction and killing by terrorists of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir.

Khan described the Indian response as “arrogant and negative” and suggested that his opposite number, Narendra Modi, was lacking “the vision to see the larger picture.”

^{The two countries could meet in Tests before 2023}

Mani was therefore already on the back foot in talks with the ICC, but issued a plea for politics and cricket to be kept as separate as possible.

“I believe there should be no interference from politicians in cricketing affairs,” the PCB chairman said.

“India-Pakistan fans around the globe want to the watch the teams contesting. It is a treat to watch fans thronging the Dubai Stadium to watch the contest between the Asian giants.”

Mani stated that he had met his Indian counterparts and they were happy for the two teams to meet on a regular basis again. He added, “It is high time to take some decision on the matter. I will go to any length for the revival of the game.”

India went on to beat Pakistan by nine wickets, securing their place in Friday’s final of the Asia Cup. Pakistan will need to beat Bangladesh on Wednesday to join them.