Are India and Pakistan playing each other too often?

Too much cricket spoils the fun, says Shaharyar Khan © Getty Images Enlarge

The Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have expressed concern over the excessive number of matches between the two countries since cricketing ties resumed in March last year. The two teams have now played 15 one-day internationals and six Tests in the span of one year.

Concerned that too many matches might lessen the excitement and charm of an India-Pakistan tie among the fans, Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, said in a Press Trust of India report: "After India complete their tour of Pakistan sometime in January-February next year, the two boards will discuss this issue. We feel perhaps Pakistan and India are playing too much cricket against each other since the revival of cricket ties and we need to reach a bilateral agreement on how much we should play against each other in, say, a five-year cycle."

India toured Pakistan in March last year, which put an end to a four-year freeze in bilateral cricketing ties. This was followed by Pakistan touring India after six years, after which India are scheduled to visit Pakistan for three Tests and five ODIs early next year. In March-April 2006, they will clash again in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

"We don't want a situation where people will become tired of watching Pakistan-India matches," Shaharyar said. "We don't want an excess of these games at any point of time. We have a played a lot against each other in a year's time."