India and Pakistan haven’t played any bilateral cricket since 2012. This has had a significant impact. Due to high demand for matches between the two arch-rivals, we see the ICC ‘fix’ matches between them at each event. Well, not all events. The World Test Championship (WTC) is where India and Pakistan haven’t met.
Test cricket, the real sufferer of no bilateral cricket
It’s been 19 years since they last played a Test match. The truth of the matter is that red-ball cricket has suffered the most in its bilateral stoppage agreement. But it might just get worse. We might be in for a repeat. India and Bangladesh’s relationship is turning sour.
After the Mustafizur Rahman drama, Bangladesh won’t allow any coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. India’s tour of Bangladesh, which was previously postponed, has been put on hold. Bangladesh won’t be travelling to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup either. This could very well be the end of bilateral cricket between them.
Much like Pakistan, India will continue facing Bangladesh at ICC events like the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. It’ll be Test cricket that’ll suffer. With fears over a decline in interest and priority given to the oldest format by players and boards, Test cricket could become a 7-team sport.
No IND vs BAN, no effect on WTC?
But Aakash Chopra thinks otherwise. He doesn’t think Test cricket or the WTC will suffer if India and Bangladesh stop playing each other. The former Indian opener stated how the Tigers aren’t really competitive against India, especially away from home. Their team hasn’t improved in the longest format. They are much better in white-ball cricket, where they give top teams a run for their money.
“Don’t come to play the World Cup in India. It’s fine. A lot of people keep saying that ‘Pakistan does not come to India and now Bangladesh will also not come to India. Only 9 teams play Test cricket. So should we just keep playing with the 7 teams in the WTC?’ To them, I say so what? If we play Bangladesh in Tests, is it actually benefitting the WTC? Last time we played them, there were 2 Tests, of which one was completed in one and a half days. Our batters had absolutely dominated their bowlers. It’s not as if they will improve all of a sudden,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel.
He cited Pakistan’s example. They finished 5th in 2019-21, 7th in 2021-23, and 9th in the 2023-25 cycles. In Aakash’s eyes, you aren’t missing out on anything, considering Pakistan can’t challenge India. Similarly, Bangladesh has finished 9th, 9th, and 7th.
“We are not playing Pakistan. In the past WTC cycles, when have Pakistan finished in the top 3? Not even once. So how does it make a huge difference to world cricket in that way?” he added.
If one were to present a counterpoint, one would say that teams can’t improve unless they face top opposition. India started playing in 1932, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that they started to challenge teams regularly. The Asia Cup and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was created to uplift Asian teams. Presently, the exact opposite is happening. If India, who are the biggest power in world cricket, continue to alienate other teams, who will be left to play international cricket with them?
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