'ICC should have done something' - Waqar Younis feels that World Test Championship without India-Pakistan fixtures makes no sense

The ICC World Test Championship is underway but two of the game’s powerhouses — India and Pakistan — are not going to feature in any series under the two-year-long tournament. And this has annoyed former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis who said the world championship in the red-ball format remains incomplete if there is no clash between the two arch-rivals.

The 48-year-old former pacer, who is currently coaching Pakistan in the bowling department, said during an interview to YouTube channel Cricket Baaz that although he understands that the current situation is difficult between the two neighbours, the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take steps to make them play against each other. The last time India and Pakistan locked horns in the Test arena was in 2007-08 when Pakistan toured India.

“The ICC should have intervened and done something because to me having a Test championship without Pakistan and India Test matches makes no sense,” the former bowler, who has 789 international wickets, said.

The bilateral cricket relations between India and Pakistan were damaged after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and the two nations have played just one bilateral series since then and it was a three-match ODI series in India.

In the points table of the World Test Championship, while India are at the top with seven wins from nine matches that have fetched them 360 points, Pakistan are at the fifth position with two wins from five outings (140 points).

Waqar Younis played only four Tests against India

Younis, who made his Test debut against India in the same series in which Sachin Tendulkar started his international career, rued that he has played only four Tests against India in his career spanning between 1989 and 2003.

“It’s always been like this that is why making my test debut against India is something I don’t forget,” Younis said.

He also praised the vast improvements India have made in their fast-bowling attack over the years saying the likes of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma have taken India to the top.

“If you see India has really worked hard in this area and they are now producing bowlers regularly who bowl in the 140 plus range. In the past it was not like this. But things have changed. (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, Ishant (Sharma) have taken India to the top. That is why India is doing so well in Test and other formats now,” he said.

Here’s the video: