Such a hurt that Pakistan/India series don't take place anymore..and it's been ages...

[The Hillside]

This is hurting global cricket somewhat..they could do a series at a neutral venue every now and then...but they won't...there is a new generation of cricketers and hurts to see them not playing against each other..fans, boards, cricket and players all suffer...

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Sad yes, but the Twitter battles between former players of respective teams are popcorn-eating worthy.

 

[Starfighter]

I'm coming to the opinion that the OP is a bit of a nong and posting to get a rise out of people.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

I'm coming to the opinion that the OP is a bit of a nong and posting to get a rise out of people.

I'm a bit hopeful that he/she blossoms into a fantastic poster down the line.

When I first joined this site, I was opening threads rather frequently.

 

[smash84]

This is hurting global cricket somewhat..they could do a series at a neutral venue every now and then...but they won't...there is a new generation of cricketers and hurts to see them not playing against each other..fans, boards, cricket and players all suffer...

I am glad that there isn't a series happening between these two.

India would be absolutely thrashing Pak. Wouldn't make for fun watching.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I'm coming to the opinion that the OP is a bit of a nong and posting to get a rise out of people.

So the same as 90% of us

 

[bagapath]

I do not believe that rivalry means anything important to anyone anymore. I do not believe in the hype TV channels are creating for these games.

The two countries are no longer competitors in anything. In the last three decades India has grown in all other fields and has become a global powerhouse; the undisputed top dog in the business of cricket. Pakistan has gone backwards politically, socially and economically. No one toured them for a decade and the game did not suffer because of that. They are still neighbours; but not equals.

There is simmering anger and racist hatred between them. That is not going to produce anything fun like it used to, when India and Pakistan - despite harbouring similar mutual anger as now, perhaps - still behaved like siblings trying to outdo each other in cricket. In the 80s and 90s Pakistan was the winner on the cricket field, by miles - except in the 50 over world cups.

Now there is no kick in the Pakistan - India matches because they are not equals outside of the playing field anymore.
Even on the field, India may dominate Pakistan for now. That balance will always swing with time.
But the overall difference between the countries may not be bridged for centuries.
In the next decades Afghanistan might catch up with Pakistan on all fronts and that may become a hot cricketing rivalry.

 

[Daemon]

I do not believe that rivalry means anything important to anyone anymore. I don't believe in the hype TV channels are creating for these games.

The two countries are no longer competitors in anything. In the last three decades India has grown in all other fields and has become a global powerhouse; the undisputed top dog in the business of cricket. Pakistan has gone backwards politically, socially and economically. No one toured them for a decade and the game did not suffer because of that. They are still neighbours; but not equals.

There is simmering anger and racist hatred between them. That is not going to producing anything fun like it used to be when India and Pakistan - despite harbouring similar mutual anger as now, perhaps - still behaved like siblings trying to outdo each other in cricket. In the 80s and 90s Pakistan was the winner on the cricket field, by miles - except in the 50 over world cups.

Now there is no kick in the Pakistan - India matches because they are not equals outside of the playing field anymore.
Even on the field, India may dominate Pakistan. That balance will always swing with time.
But the overall difference between the countries may not be bridged for centuries.
In the next decade Afghanistan might catch up with Pakistan on all fronts and that may become a hot cricketing rivalry.

Idk, I feel like a lot of the passion from fans during the spicier rivalry days was just from rabid patriotism.

These days it comes with less baggage and that’s fine imo.

 

[bagapath]

Idk, I feel like a lot of the passion from fans during the spicier rivalry days was just from rabid patriotism.

These days it comes with less baggage and that’s fine imo.

Probably. But there is no spice. Doesn't mean the two countries have matured and accepted each other. There are probably more morons on both sides of the border than before. But I feel the two countries are not in the same league anymore on all fronts. So the cricketing rivalry doesn't mean anything. If Pakistan thrashes India in any sport it will be deemed an upset. If India beats Pakistan that will be considered the natural order of things.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Probably. But there is no spice. Doesn't mean the two countries have matured and accepted each other. There are probably more morons on both of the border than before. But I feel the two countries are not in the same league anymore on all fronts. So the cricketing rivalry doesn't mean anything. If Pakistan thrashes India in any sport it will be deemed an upset. If India beats Pakistan that will be considered the natural order of things.

India vs Pakistan in a test series would be headline news on every cricketing outlet, any venue they would choose to play in would be a sell out.

Lets not kid ourselves here, there arent many test series that have the kind of pull that an Indian/Pak series would bring and that can only be good for Test Cricket. It is hurting Test Cricket that two big name Test sides have not played each other for 16 years.

Pakistan have their problems as most Test nations do, but you never know ..

West Indies are not a Test powerhouse anymore but England cant buy a win in the Carribean.

 

[Daemon]

Always found it a bit odd if things like comparing economic, social and political success are fuelling your rivalry. It's the sort of nationalistic dick waving that I'd love to see both sets of fans stop doing.

I think the main reason the rivalry has dimished is due to the fact that they rarely play each other anymore. It's hard to build narratives around player matchups and the like.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Babar is father of Kohli

 

[Burgey]

would be headline news on every cricketing outlet,

Not here it wouldn't

 

[GIMH]

Not here it wouldn't

That’s because you are an insular little backwater

 

[Burgey]

Nah it's because it would be a **** series atm

 

[Kirkut]

I do not believe that rivalry means anything important to anyone anymore. I do not believe in the hype TV channels are creating for these games.

The two countries are no longer competitors in anything. In the last three decades India has grown in all other fields and has become a global powerhouse; the undisputed top dog in the business of cricket. Pakistan has gone backwards politically, socially and economically. No one toured them for a decade and the game did not suffer because of that. They are still neighbours; but not equals.

There is simmering anger and racist hatred between them. That is not going to produce anything fun like it used to, when India and Pakistan - despite harbouring similar mutual anger as now, perhaps - still behaved like siblings trying to outdo each other in cricket. In the 80s and 90s Pakistan was the winner on the cricket field, by miles - except in the 50 over world cups.

Now there is no kick in the Pakistan - India matches because they are not equals outside of the playing field anymore.
Even on the field, India may dominate Pakistan for now. That balance will always swing with time.
But the overall difference between the countries may not be bridged for centuries.
In the next decades Afghanistan might catch up with Pakistan on all fronts and that may become a hot cricketing rivalry.

I know politically we will never get along (for good though, no point in trusting Pak deep state), but that bolded part is overstated. Yes a % of population would harbor hostilities for one and another, but majority mind their own businesses, in fact a lot of Pakistani YouTube channels enjoy healthy popularity in India discrediting the belief that Indians completely hate Pakistan.

On the cricketing front, yes I don't see the current Pak side giving any troubles. Shaheen on his day may reduce us to 15/4 within first 5 overs of his spell, but then we would make quick recovery and be 320 all out.

 

[bagapath]

I know politically we will never get along (for good though, no point in trusting Pak deep state), but that bolded part is overstated. Yes a % of population would harbor hostilities for one and another, but majority mind their own businesses, in fact a lot of Pakistani YouTube channels enjoy healthy popularity in India discrediting the belief that Indians completely hate Pakistan.

On the cricketing front, yes I don't see the current Pak side giving any troubles. Shaheen on his day may reduce us to 15/4 within first 5 overs of his spell, but then we would make quick recovery and be 320 all out.

I hope you are right. I expect the worst from people most of the time - and get pleasantly surprised when I am wrong.

 

[bagapath]

Always found it a bit odd if things like comparing economic, social and political success are fuelling your rivalry. It's the sort of nationalistic dick waving that I'd love to see both sets of fans stop doing.

I think the main reason the rivalry has dimished is due to the fact that they rarely play each other anymore. It's hard to build narratives around player matchups and the like.

West Indies players of the past speak of race as a reason for playing with an extra zing against England.
There are non sporting factors like this in international sports that make the game more than a game. One cannot deny them even if your moral compass doesn't accept it at a personal level. In club cricket like IPL these get ironed out and the game reverts to a pure sporting event.
The 1980s Indo-Pak games were supposed to be played between two equals. So the losses hurt a lot for both of them. Such an equation doesn't exist in the changed global positions of the two nations. Pakistan and Afghanistan are more equals these days.

 

[bagapath]

India vs Pakistan in a test series would be headline news on every cricketing outlet, any venue they would choose to play in would be a sell out.

Lets not kid ourselves here, there arent many test series that have the kind of pull that an Indian/Pak series would bring and that can only be good for Test Cricket. It is hurting Test Cricket that two big name Test sides have not played each other for 16 years.

Pakistan have their problems as most Test nations do, but you never know ..

West Indies are not a Test powerhouse anymore but England cant buy a win in the Carribean.

if this was true, then there would have been more efforts to make that happen.
These day India vs Australia and India vs England mean a lot more to India and England and Australia. Touring India is a lot more convenient for the English and Aussies compared to 40 years ago. There is more money and more fun.
As a cricket fan I want to see India compete against the very best in the world. Pakistan is not in that league; so the idea of playing them doesn't excite me at all.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

if this was true, then there would have been more efforts to make that happen.
These day India vs Australia and India vs England mean a lot more to India and England and Australia. Touring India is a lot more convenient for the English and Aussies compared to 40 years ago. There is more money and more fun.
As a cricket fan I want to see India compete against the very best in the world. Pakistan is not in that league; so the idea of playing them doesn't excite me at all.

Well as a businessman youre not looking at the numbers , then you would realise you're in the minority..

Every time India vs Pakistan play a cricket match some viewership record gets broken,

For example the 2023 World Cup group game between India vs Pak , even though it was one sided ..
it broke the record for the most viewers watching a cricket stream at one time (35 million )

Every World Cup the most watched game is always India vs Pakistan and its not even close..

Its not a coincidence that India and Pakistan are drawn together in tournaments the ICC are not stupid they know how big a money spinner this game is. Test Cricket does need that kind of pull again, but politics behind the scenes is preventing bilateral series, maybe thats why so many tournaments are happening more often these days to milk the India vs Pakistan cashcow.