'Can you imagine an ICC event without India vs Pakistan?' - Aakash Chopra slams ICC for not holding India vs Pakistan contests in WTC cycles

The introduction of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) has added a new dimension to Test cricket. With a rise in all the talks of it dying a slow death, several former cricketers and officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) were sweating over the future of the longest form of the sport.

But the introduction of the WTC cycle has certainly added more engagement into the format and a real meaning to every Test match that is played within the cycle.

India is one team that has done well in both WTC cycles played thus far. They finished as runner-ups in the 2019-21 cycle after losing to the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand and had to be content with the same in the recently culminated 2021-23 cycle, which saw Pat Cummins' Australia clinch the coveted Test mace.

Usually, when you are playing an ICC event, you get the opportunity to lock horns with almost every team contesting in the tournament alongside you as it was the case during the 1992 World Cup or even during the 2019 World Cup that was played in England and Wales, but surprisingly India haven't had the opportunity to square off against their arch-rivals Pakistan even once since the inception of the WTC.

ICC released the schedule for the next WTC cycle (2023-25) too and as it was expected both neighbouring countries are not slated to play against each other during the two-year cycle. As strange as it may look, but the political tension between both countries has not allowed them to play any bilateral cricket in a long time, and that has deprived fans of some mouth-watering action.

Cricketer-turned-broadcaster Aakash Chopra tried to draw the attention of the apex cricketing body on the same as he put forth his opinion by taking to his YouTube channel.

“You don't play against all teams. But this is WTC, it's an ICC event. It has been 4 years now… can you imagine an ICC event without India vs Pakistan? This can never happen. It's always at the start of the tournament, so it gets off to a great start commercially. It gets the highest rating and people make money,” said Chopra.

Chopra lashed out at ICC for not holding a single India versus Pakistan clash in the previously culminated WTC cycles and mentioned that all the games played during the cycle should be in the purview of the highest cricketing governing body in practical terms and not just on paper.

“So, is WTC not an ICC event?” Chopra continued. “It's an ICC mace, they host the final. So, all the matches that take place in the cycle should be in the purview of the ICC. It will be 6 years, and you didn't have a single India-Pakistan series.”

“This is also an ICC event. If it's not, make it clear. Call it bilateral cricket and accept that you have made WTC just to glamorize Tests,” added Chopra.