'India-Pakistan Cricket Rivalry Should Start' - Shoaib Malik

Cricket is not just a game for an Indian, it's more like a religion. When Team India plays against any country, the match is a must watch one but when it's between India and Pakistan then it can't be missed! 

India and Pakistan have made several memorable matches over the years and moments that can never be forgotten. From 2007 T20I World Cup final to the 2017 Champions Trophy final, fans can watch the match over and over again. But currently due to the tension between the two countries, India and Pakistan have not played any series since years.

Recently, while speaking to a Pakistan sports daily - PakPassion.net. veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik believes that India and Pakistan should resume bilateral series as the 'world badly needs it.'  

“I think the world badly needs this rivalry to resume, in the same way that world cricket needs the Ashes. Could England and Australia imagine Test cricket without an Ashes series? Both series are played with the same kind of passion and have such a great history, so it is a shame that we don’t play right now,” Malik told PakPassion.net.   

“Also, I have Pakistani friends who love to talk about Indian cricketers with respect and admiration. Similarly, I and my Pakistan team-mates are given such love and support when we play in India so it is a rivalry that I would like to see return as soon as it is possible,” the cricketer further added. 

Further recalling his favourite memories of playing against India, Malik stated that: "From a personal point of view the 2009 Champions Trophy match at Centurion when I was Man of the Match after scoring 128 and the Asia Cup match in Sri Lanka in 2004 where I scored 143 from 127 balls and took the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh are great memories.”

“But I also enjoyed the one-off ODI in Kolkata in 2004 when we chased 293 to win. It was a day before Eid and the atmosphere inside Eden Gardens in that floodlit match was incredible,” he finally asserted.