New Delhi: Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq challenged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to arrange a full-fledged series across formats—10 Tests, 10 ODIs and 10 T20Is—against Pakistan to determine the better team of the two long-standing rivals.
Mushtaq’s comments to a Pakistani TV news channel came days after India’s six-wicket win over Pakistan in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, a result that reignited the debate over the traditional rivalry between the two teams.
According to Mushtaq—who previously coached the Pakistan cricket team from 2021-22 and is expected to reclaim his position as head coach—Pakistan have the potential to excel and prove themselves as a formidable force in international cricket if they get their act together.
“If we keep political things aside, their players are very good, and they have been playing good cricket,” Mushtaq said in an interview with 24 News HD channel.
“If you are really a good team, I think let’s play 10 Tests, 10 ODIs and 10 T20Is against Pakistan, then everything would become clear,” he added.
Saqlain Mushtaq's challenge
If u are truly a good team, play 10 Test matches, 10 ODIs,10 T20Is against us and it will become clear (who is the best). If we (Pakistan) prepare well and make the right decisions, we will be able to give a solid response to India and the world." pic.twitter.com/TsNupIklDX
— Varun Giri (@Varungiri0) March 1, 2025
According to Mushtaq, playing the number of matches he suggested would help Pakistan silence their critics. “If we get our preparation right and sort out things in the right direction, then we will be in a situation where we can give solid answers to the world and India as well,” said Mushtaq.
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‘One-sided’ rivalry
Many cricket fans are now questioning whether the India-Pakistan rivalry still deserves to be billed as one of cricket’s great contests, with some suggesting the competition may be overrated since Pakistan consistently fails to challenge India’s strong line-up.
This isn’t a new concern, though. Many have long deemed the rivalry “one-sided” due to India’s dominance, with nine wins out of 12 matches across formats since 2012/13. The margins of these victories have been significant, ranging from 5-9 wickets and 76-124 runs.
Mushtaq, who played from 1995 to 2004, took 208 Test and 288 ODI wickets, with 82 of those wickets coming against India in 19 matches.
According to Pakistani sports journalist Qadir Khawaja, Mushtaq is the top contender to replace Aaqib Javed as head coach.
Reports suggest that Mushtaq has accepted the offer after meeting with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. His first assignment is likely to be the upcoming white-ball series in New Zealand.
Pakistan faced a disappointing exit from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, failing to win a single match in Group A. They suffered losses to New Zealand by 60 runs and to India by six wickets, while their final group-stage match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain in Rawalpindi. Pakistan finished at the bottom of the Group A points table with just 1 point from 3 matches, calling for a possible revamp into the team’s overall affairs.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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