NICK HOWSON: A reigniting of the debate regarding touring provides a familiar reminder that this is a rare opportunity to see two of the sport's titans collide
Whether it be Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe or Mike Tyson vs George Foreman, boxing fans of the 1990s were robbed of two iconic fights. Undeniably, the history of the most famous combat sport is laden with stories of what could have been. Boxers have made careers out of ducking, diving and avoiding tricky tests while betraying the public and continue to.
Boxing has no fixture list. Uncertainty over the upcoming schedule, devotees will tell you, is part of the intrigue, helping to keep things fresh and exciting. But it is far from perfect.
The Future Tours Programme, supplemented with a buffet of domestic franchise competitions, means cricket is quite the opposite. As a matter of fact, it has several overlapping and conflicting fixture lists, bloating the calendar and breaking players.
And yet, India in Pakistan and Pakistan in India remains off the table. Political tensions between the two nations mean it is a non-starter. Only once since the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 have they contested a bilateral series (Pakistan played two T20Is and three ODIs in India in 2012-13).
It is a familiar story for the women, whose only T20I on opposition soil came in the 2016 World Cup. The 2013 meeting in the 50-over equivalent is their last ODI meeting in either India or Pakistan.
It is 15 years since the two nations contested a Test (the women have never played one), the second-longest gap since Pakistan earnest appropriate status. Efforts have been made to repair the relationship, but these kinds of decisions ultimately rest with governments.
India celebrate victory in 2007 (Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Any progress made was undermined this week following verbal sparing regarding next year's Asia Cup, due to be hosted by Pakistan. BCCI secretary and ACC president said, "we can't go there, they can't come here."
An angry PCB replied with a cutting statement, suggesting the comments "have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities" and making a thinly-veiled threat ahead of the upcoming 50-over World Cup. Back to square one, then.
Last year's meeting at the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates was the 200th between the two nations but just the sixth in five years. Two more followed in the recent Asia Cup, but against the backdrop of another fracture in relations, it is another reminder of the rarity of these fixtures.
It is also true to say that as matches have become increasingly scant in the schedule, their value in the eyes of broadcasters and major tournament organisers has only multiplied. Since both sides failed to reach the knockout stage at the 2007 ODI World Cup in the Caribbean and didn't meet in successive World T20s in 2009 and 2010, they've been joined at the hip, being placed in the same Super 10/12 section for the fourth T20 World Cup in a row.
Since meeting in the inaugural 2007 final, they've only managed to reach the trophy match on one more occasion each. Pakistan, beaten in Johannesburg, overcame Sri Lanka at Lord's, who would beat India five years later in Dhaka.
THE BIG MATCH
Who: India v Pakistan
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
When: Sunday, October 23 (7pm local time, 9am BST)
Prediction: India
If two wins, two runners-up finishes and four semi-finals between them in seven editions sound like domination, it most certainly isn't. Given the talent pool at the disposal of both, they are very often watching from afar when the biggest prizes are handed out.
The Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma axis has started in a predictably clinical fashion. Bilateral series are India's bread and butter and they've whitewashed New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Ireland, beaten Australia, England and South Africa (there was also a 2-2 series draw) since last year's Super 12s exit to go to No.1 in the world.
Inevitably, they were undone in a major tournament. Losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan meant they missed out on the Asia Cup final. Their trophy cabinet remains insufficiently filled (no World Cup in any format since 2011), 15 years on from the start of the Indian Premier League.
Despite being the team to beat over the last 12 months, it is worrying to near Rohit admit India need to get "a lot of things right" to leave Australia with their second title. Jasprit Bumrah's absence is a hammer blow but it is still and overly pessimistic outlook.
"It's been a while since we have won the World Cup," Virat Kohli's replacement told BCCI.tv. "Obviously the motive and the whole thought process is to win the World Cup, but we know that we need to do a lot of things right to get there, so one step at a time for us.
"We can't think too far ahead. You really cannot think about semis and finals from now itself, you just need to focus on each team that you are going to come against and try to do your best and prepare well against each team and make sure we move in the right direction."
Celebration time for Pakistan at Lord's (GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Before Matthew Wade unleashed hell in the second semi-final in Dubai, Pakistan looked destined to double their T20 World Cup tally. They are arguably a more rounded outfit a year on, with the best opening pair in the world, an improved middle-order and a pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Virtual one-offs continue to be a problem. Losing a single T20I at home to champions Australia was followed by defeat in the Asia Cup final and in the series decider to England. That alarming trend was bucked in the tri-series, a five-wicket victory over hosts New Zealand, but concerns over their temperament remain.
Preparations in Australia have been far from ideal, too, losing again to England and the Afghanistan clash being rained off early in their chase, denying batters a chance to find form.
"When you get that kind of performance right before the World Cup, it gives a lot of confidence to the team," Babar said of overcoming the Kiwis. "I’m fully confident they would perform well in the World Cup, too. It’s a good sign for us.
"Pakistan always have had an abundance of fast bowlers and we currently have a very strong pace attack.
"Shaheen's return strengthens our attack. Haris has improved a lot, both with the new ball and in the death overs. This is an opportunity to showcase our skill as a pace unit."
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