The relations between two Himalayan neighbours is at all time low and due to that the bilateral cricket series between two arch rivals India and Pakistan doesn’t look possible anytime in near future.
The last bilateral series between the two countries was back in 2012 when Pakistan visited India for two T20Is and three ODIs. Apart from that the duo only meet against each other in ICC events.
Senior Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik believes that the two countries should resume their cricket rivalry for the world to see.
“I think the world badly needs this rivalry to resume, in the same way that world cricket needs the Ashes,” Malik was quoted PakPassion.net in an interview.
“Could England and Australia imagine Test cricket without an Ashes series? Both series are played with the same kind of passion and have such a great history, so it is a shame that we don’t play right now,” he added.
“Also, I have Pakistani friends who love to talk about Indian cricketers with respect and admiration. Similarly, I and my Pakistan team-mates are given such love and support when we play in India so it is a rivalry that I would like to see return as soon as it is possible,” the cricketer who is married to Indian Tennis star Sania Mirza further said.
Recalling his favourite memories of playing against India, Malik further added, “From a personal point of view the 2009 Champions Trophy match at Centurion when I was Man of the Match after scoring 128 and the Asia Cup match in Sri Lanka in 2004 where I scored 143 from 127 balls and took the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh are great memories.”
“But I also enjoyed the one-off ODI in Kolkata in 2004 when we chased 293 to win. It was a day before Eid and the atmosphere inside Eden Gardens in that floodlit match was incredible,” he added.