“It is Only Getting Worse” – IPL Founder Offers Honest Verdict on India vs. Pakistan Cricket Future

Lalit Modi claimed that political interference within Pakistan's cricket board has hindered negotiations with its Indian counterpart.

“It is Only Getting Worse” – IPL Founder Offers Honest Verdict on India vs. Pakistan Cricket Future

Lalit Modi expressed skepticism about the resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket. (via News 18)

In Short
  • India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-13 due to strained diplomatic relations.
  • Lalit Modi attributes the ongoing suspension of matches to the politicization of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
  • Modi expresses skepticism about the future of bilateral cricket, citing increasing tensions and player safety concerns.

Due to strained diplomatic relations, India and Pakistan, two of the largest cricketing nations, have not competed in bilateral matches for more than a decade. Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi offered a bold opinion on this, attributing it to the ‘politicization’ of the PCB.

India and Pakistan last played each other in a bilateral series back in 2012-13, when the Men in Green traveled to India for a limited-overs tour. However, the subsequent deterioration of geopolitical relations between the two neighbors has resulted in a sustained suspension of all bilateral cricket. Although the teams regularly face each other in ICC and ACC tournaments, many of these recent encounters have been overshadowed by calls for boycotts and ‘no interaction’.

Most recently, the two teams played in the group stages of the 2026 T20 World Cup in Colombo. Pakistan had initially boycotted the match, but a late intervention by the ICC ensured it went ahead. Given that this rivalry has persisted over the years, even without any bilateral cricket, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi shared his perspective on this distinct sporting relationship and the factors that prevent future tours.

Speaking on Michael Vaughan’s Overlap Cricket podcast, Modi voiced skepticism about the resumption of bilateral cricket between the two neighbors in the near future. He exclaimed that the reason behind his prolonged suspension is the increased ‘politicization’ within the Pakistan Cricket Board, which he stated has been influenced by political powers for the last few years. Modi concluded that progress might only occur if the PCB were managed independently.

The problem is, if the Pakistan Cricket Board was independent and ran independently without political influence, we would have some traction. But today, it is so politicised by the powers that be.

The 62-year-old former administrator also dismissed the idea that India and Pakistan playing in a neutral territory would fix the issue. Furthermore, Lalit Modi added that the deep-seated tensions might impact player safety, while summing up that governance and decision-making in Pakistan is, in fact, the ‘problem’.

Modi highlighted his own past efforts to reignite the rivalry, specifically referencing the 2006 Friendship Series and his move to include Pakistani players in the first-ever 2008 IPL season. He added:

There is tension at the political level, and that is not going away. It’s only going to get worse, so I fear for the players… I don’t think it [India-Pakistan bilateral cricket] will be possible in the near future.

Moreover, the two countries have also not faced each other in a Test match for a long time, and the prospect remains distant. India and Pakistan last met in a three-match Test series in 2007-08, which the Men in Blue won 1-0.

A decade ago: What happened the last time India and Pakistan faced off in a bilateral series? 

The Pakistan cricket team toured India from December 2012 to January 2013, for three ODIs and two T20Is. Not only was it the Men in Green’s first cricket tour to India after a five-year absence, but it also marked the last time that the two nations played each other in a bilateral series. 

India-Pakistan series 2012-13
India and Pakistan last played each other in a bilateral series back in 2012-13. (via Indian Express)

While the Indian squad had players like captain MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and others, the visitors also boasted a strong roster, including Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal, and Shahid Afridi. Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1. Nasir Jamshed was adjudged POTS for scoring 241 runs, including two hundreds. 

Meanwhile, for the Men in Blue, skipper MS Dhoni finished as the highest run-getter across all three matches, while the other big names struggled. The T20I series ended in a draw, with Pakistan winning the first match in Bengaluru by five wickets. However, Yuvraj Singh guided the home side to victory in the second T20I in Ahmedabad, hitting a match-winning 72-run knock off just 36 balls. 

The 2012-13 series was marked by several significant moments, including Pakistan’s first-ever T20I victory over India. The One-Day series was also the last time the legendary Virender Sehwag represented the Men in Blue (in ODIs).

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