News

India-Pakistan team might take on World XI

A plan has been mooted to organise a series between a combined India-Pakistan XI and the Rest of the World

Wisden Cricinfo staff
05-Aug-2004


Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam-ul-Haq could be batting for the same team © Getty Images
A plan has been mooted to organise a series between a combined India-Pakistan XI and the Rest of the World. The matches, which would be jointly organised by the Citizens Council for a Better Tomorrow (CCBT) and 9 Yards Sports & Entertainment, is likely to comprise four one-dayers played around the world, in Mumbai, Kolkata, Manchester and Lahore.
The organisers hope that the series can be held either late this year or in the beginning of 2005. The two main stumbling blocks, which are yet to be overcome, are the permission from the respective cricket boards - quite apart from the go-ahead from the International Cricket Council - and squeezing the series into the packed international calendar.
However, Sanjay Jha of 9 Yards Sports & Entertainment was confident of overcoming these hurdles. The Indian Express quoted him as saying: "We are confident that the respective boards will give the green signal as we want to have the matches either in September this year, after the Champions Trophy, or January when the players will be free from their commitments to their respective countries.
"Though the players including Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, who will turn out for the Rest of the World, have agreed to play, we are still to get permission from the ICC and respective cricket boards."
Jha also confirmed that this will be called the Sadbhavana [meaning Goodwill] series. With the cream of international talent set to be on show, this event, if held, is definitely a mouthwatering prospect.