Despite changes to the proposed ICC World Test Championship (WTC), a bilateral Test series between India and Pakistan is highly unlikely. According to the latest reports, political tensions continue to hinder regular cricket ties, while any future bilateral series will require official approval from both governments.
India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral Test series in the last 19 years. The two rivals played consecutive Test series between 2004 and 2007 during a rare period of regular cricket ties. Pakistan’s 2007 tour of India remains the last bilateral red-ball series between the neighboring countries.
India vs Pakistan test series confirmed? WTC expansion report reveals major updates
According to a report in The Guardian, under the proposed new World Test Championship format drawn up by the International Cricket Council’s working group, teams will get more freedom in scheduling matches. The proposal does not require each team to play against all other participating nations.
This structural change protects the Board of Control for Cricket in India from facing penalties for not playing a bilateral series against Pakistan. The ICC has no authority to organize bilateral series between the two countries without the approval of both governments. Also, England will not play against Afghanistan.
The proposed expansion requires each team to play 12 championship matches against at least eight different opponents during a two-year cycle. The top two teams in the points table will qualify for the WTC Finals to be held in every odd year.
India and Pakistan have not played each other since 2012-13
Following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, bilateral cricket relations between India and Pakistan suffered major damage. The two countries have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan’s limited overs tour of India during the 2012–13 season.
A Test series at a neutral venue is unlikely due to political tension following incidents like the Pulwama attack. Both the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board continue to refuse to travel to each other’s countries.
As a result, India and Pakistan now meet only in major tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council. However, the rivalry has become less competitive in recent years, with Pakistan managing only three wins over India in the last nine years.
India and Pakistan’s performance in WTC history
India and Pakistan have performed oppositely in the WTC. India remained one of the strongest teams during the first three cycles, reaching the finals in both the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 editions. However, they lost to New Zealand in Southampton and to Australia at The Oval.
India missed another final in the 2023-2025 cycle after finishing third with a 50% points percentage following a home whitewash against New Zealand and a tough Australia tour. They are currently ranked sixth with 48.15% in the ongoing 2025-2027 cycle.
Meanwhile, Pakistan struggled during most of the WTC cycles. They finished fifth in 2019–2021 and dropped to seventh in 2021–2023 after home defeats against Australia and England.
Pakistan finished last in the 2023-2025 cycle with 27.98%, suffering a home whitewash against Bangladesh and a series defeat to the West Indies. In the current cycle, they are placed fifth with 50% after defeating South Africa by 93 runs in Lahore.
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