Cricket Australia’s (CA) CEO Nick Hockley has shown interest in bringing arch-rivals India and Pakistan together on the same board to play white-ball cricket. Though both Asian powerhouses don’t indulge in bilateral cricket owing to tense relations, these two teams play only in ICC events and the Asia Cup. Knowing the gravity of this contest regarding its reach, engagement and revenue generation, CA is keen on putting them together.

Besides, Hockley wants to host a tri-series sometime soon involving Australia – something that hasn’t happened among the top teams in a long time. The last time these three teams played on Australian soil in a tri-series was nearly a quarter of a century ago.

With no reports of three concerned boards coming together for this, Hockley remains keen on CA initiating such an initiative.&nbsp;

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"Pakistan and India are traditional rival teams; there is a lot of excitement for their matches," Hockley said. "To the extent that we’d be able to facilitate or help in that, we’d be very open to do so. However, the final decision rests with the respective cricket boards of India and Pakistan."

Hockley’s idea is to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan on the cricket front at the international level, with billions of fans worldwide invested in this blockbuster contest. Even in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup in the Americas, the India-Pakistan Group A match (in New York) garnered the most views and engagement, with history suggesting that a game between two Asian giants makes the most money for the broadcasters too.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series 12 years ago in India and&nbsp;the last Test series took place&nbsp;in 2008. Though Pakistan has travelled to India for multiple ICC tournaments since, including the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup last year, India last toured Pakistan in 2008 (for the Asia Cup).&nbsp;

However, with ICC granting Pakistan the hosting rights of the returning Champions Trophy format, taking place during the February-March window next year, questions are raised on BCCI and Team India’s stance.&nbsp;

The BCCI is yet to respond to ICC’s draft schedule for the eight-team tournament, which includes all India matches at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the latest reports suggesting that India is in Group A alongside the hosts Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

<h2>Ten-team World Cup format is best</h2>

Following ICC’s call to increase the number of participating teams from the next 50-over WC edition onwards (from 10 to 14), Hockley said the ten-team format is the best, as it gives weightage to every game.&nbsp;

"The ODI World Cup, which India hosted last year, was fantastic. I think the ten-team format, where every game counts, is excellent.

"From an Australian perspective, we would continue to value all three formats and would also want that each bilateral series must have consequences in terms of qualifications for the World Cups," Hockley concluded.

(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket Australia’s (CA) CEO Nick Hockley has shown interest in bringing arch-rivals India and Pakistan together on the same board to play white-ball cricket. Though both Asian powerhouses don’t indulge in bilateral cricket owing to tense relations, these two teams play only in ICC events and the Asia Cup.

Cricket Australia’s (CA) CEO Nick Hockley has shown interest in bringing arch-rivals India and Pakistan together on the same board to play white-ball cricket. Though both Asian powerhouses don’t indulge in bilateral cricket owing to tense relations, these two teams play only in ICC events and the Asia Cup. Knowing the gravity of this contest regarding its reach, engagement and revenue generation, CA is keen on putting them together. Besides, Hockley wants to host a tri-series sometime soon involving Australia – something that hasn’t happened among the top teams in a long time. The last time these three teams played on Australian soil in a tri-series was nearly a quarter of a century ago. With no reports of three concerned boards coming together for this, Hockley remains keen on CA initiating such an initiative. ALSO READ: PM Modi meets T20 World Cup-winning Indian Team in New Delhi - WATCH "Pakistan and India are traditional rival teams; there is a lot of excitement for their matches," Hockley said. "To the extent that we’d be able to facilitate or help in that, we’d be very open to do so. However, the final decision rests with the respective cricket boards of India and Pakistan." Hockley’s idea is to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan on the cricket front at the international level, with billions of fans worldwide invested in this blockbuster contest. Even in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup in the Americas, the India-Pakistan Group A match (in New York) garnered the most views and engagement, with history suggesting that a game between two Asian giants makes the most money for the broadcasters too. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series 12 years ago in India and the last Test series took place in 2008. Though Pakistan has travelled to India for multiple ICC tournaments since, including the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup last year, India last toured Pakistan in 2008 (for the Asia Cup). However, with ICC granting Pakistan the hosting rights of the returning Champions Trophy format, taking place during the February-March window next year, questions are raised on BCCI and Team India’s stance. The BCCI is yet to respond to ICC’s draft schedule for the eight-team tournament, which includes all India matches at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the latest reports suggesting that India is in Group A alongside the hosts Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Ten-team World Cup format is best Following ICC’s call to increase the number of participating teams from the next 50-over WC edition onwards (from 10 to 14), Hockley said the ten-team format is the best, as it gives weightage to every game. "The ODI World Cup, which India hosted last year, was fantastic. I think the ten-team format, where every game counts, is excellent. "From an Australian perspective, we would continue to value all three formats and would also want that each bilateral series must have consequences in terms of qualifications for the World Cups," Hockley concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Gear up for India-Pakistan bilateral series as Cricket Australia ‘happy’ to play hosts

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and Australia is in jeopardy, with Chief executive of Cricket Australia (CA), Nick Hockley said that Cricket Australia will "most likely" postpone the match.<o:p></o:p>

CA warned last month to cancel the Test, which is set to begin on November 27 in Hobart, if the Taliban administration, which took control of Afghanistan in August, would not let women and girls participate.

Officials and players, notably Test captain Tim Paine, have raised reservations about playing in Afghanistan if women's cricket is prohibited.

<o:p></o:p>

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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>"The work we've been doing is to understand the situation on the ground. We made our position very, very clear off the back of some earlier comments around cricket potentially not being supported for women and girls," said Hockley.

"It`s most likely that we will postpone the Test until a time when there is more clarity following consultation with the Australian government," he added.

On the other hand, Hockley has stated that the board is "desperately" attempting to host the fifth Ashes Test in Perth. The Ashes, a cricket series&nbsp;between England and Australia, will begin on December 8 in Brisbane.

The fifth and final Test is set to take place in Perth, however, the West Australian government's new COVID-19 limitations have cast doubt on the event.<o:p></o:p>

Western Australia has implemented tight border restrictions to keep COVID-19 out of the state, and the England squad would have to quarantine for two weeks after landing in Perth from the fourth test in Sydney if the government followed its regulations.

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"We would desperately like to play the fifth Test in Perth, it's absolutely our intention to do so. Those discussions are going on right as we speak. We are encouraged by the experience we had last summer when we were able to play five BBL matches in January," Hockley said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

"There's been a whole winter of experience of playing elite sport at Perth Stadium in biosecure conditions. We have strong relationships and are working through the detail as to what that might look like.

"It's really important we are giving both squads, match officials and broadcasters a great experience and their wellbeing is front of mind," he added.

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and Australia is in jeopardy, with Chief executive of Cricket Australia (CA), Nick Hockley said that Cricket Australia will "most likely" postpone the match.

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and Australia is in jeopardy, with Chief executive of Cricket Australia (CA), Nick Hockley said that Cricket Australia will "most likely" postpone the match. CA warned last month to cancel the Test, which is set to begin on November 27 in Hobart, if the Taliban administration, which took control of Afghanistan in August, would not let women and girls participate. Officials and players, notably Test captain Tim Paine, have raised reservations about playing in Afghanistan if women's cricket is prohibited. Also Read: No Hardik Pandya! Virender Sehwag names 3 players Mumbai Indians should retain ahead of IPL mega auction "The work we've been doing is to understand the situation on the ground. We made our position very, very clear off the back of some earlier comments around cricket potentially not being supported for women and girls," said Hockley. "It`s most likely that we will postpone the Test until a time when there is more clarity following consultation with the Australian government," he added. On the other hand, Hockley has stated that the board is "desperately" attempting to host the fifth Ashes Test in Perth. The Ashes, a cricket series between England and Australia, will begin on December 8 in Brisbane. The fifth and final Test is set to take place in Perth, however, the West Australian government's new COVID-19 limitations have cast doubt on the event. Western Australia has implemented tight border restrictions to keep COVID-19 out of the state, and the England squad would have to quarantine for two weeks after landing in Perth from the fourth test in Sydney if the government followed its regulations. ALSO READ | DRS to make debut in upcoming ICC men's T20 World Cup 2021 "We would desperately like to play the fifth Test in Perth, it's absolutely our intention to do so. Those discussions are going on right as we speak. We are encouraged by the experience we had last summer when we were able to play five BBL matches in January," Hockley said, according to ESPNcricinfo. "There's been a whole winter of experience of playing elite sport at Perth Stadium in biosecure conditions. We have strong relationships and are working through the detail as to what that might look like. "It's really important we are giving both squads, match officials and broadcasters a great experience and their wellbeing is front of mind," he added.

Historic Australia-Afghanistan Test likely to be postponed, hints CA chief Nick Hockley

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Gear up for India-Pakistan bilateral series as Cricket Australia ‘happy’ to play hosts

Historic Australia-Afghanistan Test likely to be postponed, hints CA chief Nick Hockley