Will MCG Host India-Pakistan Test: Right after The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) successfully host the India – Pakistan world cup clash earlier this year, now shows interest in hosting a Test match between arch-rivals.
Will MCG Host India-Pakistan Test in Future
MCC, which manages the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Victoria government have recently inquired with CA about the possibility of hosting the high-profile Test.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox has revealed his intentions to host the Test following the tremendous success of the T20 World Cup clash in October, which was attended by over 90,000 spectators.
“Absolutely. Three (Tests) in a row would be lovely at the MCG. You’d fill it every time. We have asked,” Fox was quoted as saying by SEN radio.
“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.
“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.” Fox said it is now up to CA to pursue the matter with the ICC.
“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,” he said.
India and Pakistan have first played in 1952 when Pakistan toured India. Tests and, later, limited-overs series have been played ever since, although a number of planned tours by both sides have been cancelled or aborted due to political factors.
The last time both sides played a bilateral Test match against each other was way back in 2007. Since then, both sides have only faced each other in either ICC or Asian Cricket Council tournaments.
Pakistan cricket team are scheduled to feature in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG in 2023 as part of a three-match series in the next World Test Championship cycle, and Fox hopes for a full house in that match similar to the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash. Notably, the tickets for this(India vs Pakistan) match were sold out in 5 minutes.
“I’ve never seen anything like it at the MCG, that India-Pakistan game was something else,” Fox said.
“The atmosphere, I’ve never felt it like that. The noise after every ball was just phenomenal and the families and children and everyone enjoying it.
“I think if we can be more inclusive and make sure that we cater for all cultures, we’ve got to tap into that Pakistan community next year. We want them here and that would be fantastic to have a full house day one,” he added.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as “The ‘G”, is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. It is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, the 11th largest globally, and the second-largest cricket ground by capacity.
The 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final was held on International Women’s Day between Australia and India. Australia won by 85 runs in front of a record crowd for women’s cricket of 86,174.
Australia vs New Zealand 2015 Cricket World Cup Final match registers the highest attendance at the MCG after a total of 93,013 fans watched the match. Another heartwarming incident happened at the end of the match.
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After winning the trophy Australian captain Clarke dedicated the victory to Phillip Hughes who had died after being struck on the neck by a bouncer the previous November.
When did First Cricket Match play At MCG?
The first cricket match at the venue was played on 30 September 1854, while the first inter-colonial cricket match to be played at the MCG was between Victoria and New South Wales in March 1856.
