PCB Chairman mulling to propose quadrangular T20 series involving India

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja is planning to propose an annual quadrangular T20I series which will involve arch-rivals India and Pakistan beside Australia and England.

As per a report in Code Sports, Raza has planned to propose the idea during an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting.

Notably, arch-rivals India and Pakistan only face each other in ICC events as bilateral cricket has been suspended between the two nations due to political tensions and the idea behid the annual quadrangular T20 is to see them facing-off each other regular in international cricket.

“It’s not going to happen right now, but who knows,” Raja told Code Sports.

“I have a good mind of proposing a rugby Six Nations-style series that they have a cricket series, a T20 international series outside the FTP [Future Tours Programme] where Australia, England, India, and Pakistan can play four sides,” he said.

“I was thinking of maybe introducing this concept at the ICC meeting. If India and Pakistan are not willing to play bilaterally, involve them in a four-nation [event], and so every year this tournament could go to England, Australia, Pakistan and India and take it from there. I will (propose it), definitely I will. So this is breaking news,” Raza added.

Meanwhile, Raza also urged the Australian players to tour Pakistan as it would have an emotional impact on the local fans, who had been deprived of international cricket at home.

Notably, Australia are scheduled to tour Pakistan in early March for a full tour comprising for three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I. The upcoming tour will be Australia’s first visit to the country since 1998.

Commenting on the upcoming tour, Raza said: “There’s a lot of excitement. You’ve got to understand what it means to Pakistani fans. We’ll make sure that we make it into a grand spectacle as well.”

“Some of the comments coming out of Australia, are very encouraging for us. I heard what Usman Khawaja had to say. You’ve got to understand the emotions behind such a tour. A young Australian cricketer may not understand the value that he’ll bring by touring Pakistan,” he added.

The first Test match between the two sides is scheduled to be played from March 3 in Karachi’s National Stadium while the second Test will be played between March 12 and 16 in Rawalpindi. The two teams will face-off for one final time in the Test series between March 21 and 25 in Lahore.

The three-match Test series will be played as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

The Test series will be followed by a three-match ODI series. The ODIs will be connected to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, a 13-team event from which the seven highest-placed sides and the hosts, India, will qualify directly for the event proper in 2023.

All four white-ball matches (3 ODIs and One T20I) will be held in Lahore from March 29 to April 5.

News Desk

Read Previous

PCB finalises protocols for PSL 7 amid Covid wave

Read Next

Tata to replace Vivo as IPL’s title sponsor from upcoming season