Two T20Is and three ODIs were played during Pakistan’s 2012–13 tour to India. This was the final bilateral series match between these two sides. Since since, only ICC competitions and the Asia Cup have seen the bitter rivals square off. India turned down the opportunity to play in the recently finished Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan. The ‘Men in Blue’ played their games in the island nation after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) opted to award Sri Lanka some of the matches. After visiting Pakistan, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and president Roger Binny commended their country’s hospitality.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) handled the situation well, though, and extended an invitation to the BCCI executives to attend a few of the Asia Cup matches that were being held in Pakistan.
The PCB took this action in an effort to patch up its rocky ties with India. Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the PCB Management Committee, is currently moving in that direction by suggesting the idea of a Jinnah-Gandhi bilateral series to the BCCI. Ashraf suggested that the trophy, which bears the names of two revolutionary figures, Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, could be compared to the Ashes.
“I suggested to BCCI that they play the Gandhi-Jinnah trophy every year, just like the Ashes. For this series, India and Pakistan might travel one another. We should hold a Jinnah-Gandhi trophy, I offered to the BCCI, Ashraf said ARY News.
On the other side, BCCI has often stated that permission from the Indian government is required before traveling to Pakistan.
In preparation for the ODI World Cup, Babar Azam and company are now in India. The two longtime adversaries will square off on October 14 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.