Melbourne Cricket Club expresses interest to host Indo-Pakistan Test match after T20 World Cup: Tribune India

PTI

Melbourne, December 29

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has expressed interest in hosting a Test match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan after successfully organizing a marquee T20 World Cup match between the sides earlier this year.

The MCC, which manages the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Victorian government have recently asked Cricket Australia (CA) about the possibility of staging a high-profile Test.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox has revealed his intention to host the Test following the huge success of the T20 World Cup in October, which was attended by more than 90,000 spectators.

“Absolutely. Three (Tests) in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You’d fill it every time. We’ve asked,” Fox said on SEN radio.

“We’ve raised it with Cricket Australia. I know the (Victorian) government has too. Again, it’s extremely complicated, I understand, amongst a really busy schedule. So I think it’s probably a bigger challenge.

“Wouldn’t it be great that it wasn’t just Australia and Victoria-centric, that we cater to all countries and fill the stadium all the time. So we’ve been asking.” Fox said it is now up to CA to pursue the matter with the ICC.

“Hopefully Cricket Australia will continue to take the ICC and drive it forward. When you see some of the stadiums around the world empty, I think it would be much better to have a full house and that atmosphere and celebrate the game. full houses,” he said.

India and Pakistan last played a bilateral Test match against each other in 2007. Since then, the two sides have only met in either ICC or Asian Cricket Council tournaments.

Pakistan are due to take part in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG in 2023 as part of a three-match series in the next World Cup, and Fox is hoping for a full hand in that match, similar to the India-Pakistan T20. World Cup match.

“I’ve never seen anything like it at the MCG, the India-Pakistan game was something else,” Fox said.

“The atmosphere, I’ve never felt it like it. The noise after every ball was just phenomenal and the families, the kids and everyone enjoyed it.

“I think if we can be more inclusive and make sure we cater to all cultures, we need to get to that Pakistani community next year. We want them here and it would be fantastic to have a full house day.” he added.