Dubai Cricket Council Shows Interest To Host India-Pakistan Matches

Dubai Cricket Council has expressed its wish to host India-Pakistan matches annually like its earlier days. India and Pakistan used to play plenty of matches in Sharjah until 2000, and they haven’t even played a bilateral series between them since 2013 due to political tensions between the two nations.

Looking forward to hosting more India-Pakistan matches in Dubai: Abdul Rahman Falaknaz

The two teams are restricted to play against each other in multi-team events such as the World Cup or Asia Cup. A month ago, both the teams played in the T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which Pakistan won by 10 wickets.

Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, who is chairman of the Dubai Cricket Council, said that he will try to convince BCCI to get the nod for the series to get more India-Pakistan games in UAE.

“The best thing would be to get India-Pakistan matches here. When Sharjah used to host India and Pakistan all those years ago, it was like a war. But it was a good war, it was a sporting war, and it was fantastic,” Falaknaz was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.

“I am looking forward to hosting more India-Pakistan matches in Dubai. I will try and convince my friends in the BCCI to do the same. If they are ready to play Pakistan, we will be more than happy to offer our venue.

“I would invite them to come and hold their IPL, start here and finish in India or start in India and finish in Dubai. It all depends on what the BCCI wants to do. We are very friendly with them,” he added.

We are lucky to be an alternative to India: Abdul Rahman Falaknaz

The BCCI had shifted the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE after a rising number of COVID-19 cases in India. The Indian board had the rights to host the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, also shifted the event to UAE and Oman.

UAE held all the Super 12 games, followed by the knockout matches in Dubai. Falaknaz said that they were fortunate to be India’s backup option for hosting matches.

“I am very proud because the UAE as a whole and especially Dubai in particular hosts everything to the best. And of course, the T20 World Cup is also a sign of good organisation. I would say we are lucky to be an alternative to India,” Falaknaz said.

Pakistan will be hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and the Indian government has already raised concerns about the Indian team’s participation.

Also Read: This Is Something That The Governments Have To Work On – Sourav Ganguly On Resumption Of India-Pakistan Bilateral Cricket