The Melbourne Cricket Club, which oversees the MCG, and the Victorian government have sent preliminary inquiries to Cricket Australia on holding a Test match between India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground following the success of the historic T20 World Cup between the two teams.
MCC CEO Stuart Fox said that the club and the Victoria government had contacted CA about hosting a Test match at a neutral venue during a discussion on SEN radio on the fourth day of the second Test match between Australia and South Africa. India and Pakistan haven’t played each other in a Test match since 2007, and they haven’t engaged in a bilateral series since 2013.
Fox, though, stated that the MCC would be delighted to host the two countries for a Test match following the thrilling last-ball contest of the T20 World Cup, which attracted 90,293 spectators to the MCG in October.
“Absolutely. Three (Tests) in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You’d fill it every time. We have asked. We’ve taken that up with Cricket Australia. I know the (Victoria) government has as well. Again, it’s enormously complicated from what I can understand, amongst a really busy schedule. So I think that’s probably the greater challenge,” Stuart Fox was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“Wouldn’t it be great that it wasn’t just Australia-centric and Victoria-centric, that we’re catering for all the countries and filling the stadium all the time. So we have asked. Hopefully, Cricket Australia keep taking it up with the ICC and keep pushing for it. When you do see some of the stadiums around the world unoccupied, I think it would be much better to have a full house and that atmosphere and celebrating the game with full houses,” Fox added.
“It would be up to the two countries to agree” – Cricket Australia
In the end, the BCCI and the PCB would decide whether to hold a neutral Test or a Test series involving India and Pakistan, a Cricket Australia representative told ESPNcricinfo.
However, the representative added that CA would be interested in hosting a game at a neutral venue in Australia if the two cricketing boards were able to reach an agreement.
“It would be up to the two countries to agree. But if there was to be a Test between India and Pakistan on neutral territory, we would of course be interested in the opportunity to host it in Australia. The supporters of the two teams here for the World Cup were amazing and the vast majority of those fans live in Australia,” the spokesperson said.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
