I am disappointed in this. People come with stuff that these matches could lose interest if they play too much against each other, but just check out all the forums in the world and check out how many replies they have for this series each year. And check out how much people subscribe for each series with the PPV.

Personally I would say I wouldn't lose any interest in these matches. A lot can happen within a year, as we have seen from the past series till this series. Each year there come some players are dropped and new players come in, so each year the series can end differently. And Pakistan has been doing well since the past series against Pakistan. India had a first half of the year to forget; second half was better.

And for me a year is a lot of waiting for the next series. I rather see Pakistan vs India then Pakistan vs New Zealand or Pakistan vs South Africa or some other combinations, except Australia.

Pakistan and India to cut matches

Pakistan and India have agreed to play each other in just one series every two years, rather than the current annual arrangement after fears of overkill.

The sides are preparing for their third full series since April 2004.

"We have taken this decision and will present it at the International Cricket Council meeting," said Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan.

"We don't see the ICC having any problems with accommodating this new schedule in the tours programme."

Khan said both boards agreed the sides should avoid playing too much cricket against each other and the new agreement is line with the Ashes schedule between England and Australia.

The ICC future tours programme is expected to be relaxed to ask every Test team to play the nine others at home and away at least every six years, down from the current five.

The two cricket boards are also finalising plans to play a fundraising match for earthquake victims.

"The Indians have conveyed their keenness to play their part in raising funds," Shaharyar added.

"Either we play a Twenty20 match in the current series or dedicate the proceeds of a scheduled one-dayer for the people affected by the quake.

India, who arrived Pakistan this week, are scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day internationals.

The earthquake which struck northern Pakistan on 8 October has left over 73,000 dead and some three million homeless.

The PCB dedicated gate receipts from a recent one-day international against England to victims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4592072.stm

I think it's time to implement PAK vs IND cricket matches just like Ashes......The series should be held every 2 years....with 5 matches in between on neutral ground like sharjah, england, australia....

id like to see this arrangement as it will build more hype per 2 years. Plus we just played them 2 series ago. No doubt the hype is still there but ofcourse sign are overkill are too!

why copy the ashes..is they run low on interest in cricket every year..why do we have to do the same thing. Pak India cricket has no limits and fans will never get bored of it or will never loose interest in it. Its a rivalry, its a war that should be fought every year.

I don't why people think that the interest is lost in playing too many matches....whenever there is a match between pak and india...I always watch it..and I don't think its boring at all...they should have as many games together as possible.

'We don't want the edge to go out' - Shaharyar Khan
Cricinfo staff
January 9, 2006

Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chief, revealed that measures have been taken to curb the overdose of India-Pakistan cricket, saying that the two boards have reached an understanding to have the series only once every two years. "We are playing each other too much now. We don't want the edge to go out," he told The Hindu.

He was confident that the proposed Twenty20 charity match to raise funds for the earthquake victims would take place in the current tour. He said: "It is now just a question of working out the date once Mr. Sharad Pawar (BCCI president) arrives here next week."

Khan watched Pakistan A take on the Indians on the second day of the three-day practice match at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground in Lahore. He said that although the two sides, India and Pakistan, were evenly matched, the Pakistan bowlers might just have the upper hand. He said, "Always remember that bowlers win matches. You got wonderful batsmen. But if we can find a chink in the armour, then that will be the decisive factor in my opinion."

He also expressed his satisfaction over his team's performance in the recently concluded series against a strong England side. He said, "Our team spirit and discipline have optimised our potential. And the fact that we have a captain (Inzamam-ul-Haq) who is such a wonderful man, such a great cricketer, and such a great leader, you don't have to be upfront all the time to be a great leader, has helped immensely. Inzamam and Bob Woolmer (the coach) have done a tremendous job."

Khan added the Pakistan public had shown a lot of maturity of late, taking victories and defeats in its stride, marking the transition from seeing cricket as a `pitched battle' to just a game between two sides.

© Cricinfo

i hate to say this but i have to, "didnt i tell ya that in one of my previous articles" lol there is a huge repetition and it will make the game lest spicy they need to gap it out...and are taking a brave step....if u r to say but yaar when will Pak vs india will be not spicy...well bros the answer to that is that life always gives u the unexpected...and funny shtuff always happens...

I think India would like to get humiliate (by loosing to pakistan ) once every 2 years and not every year.

that really is an optimistic way to look at it...lol

i think we should play them more frequently because Pakistan vs. india is always a hype no matter what time you play it

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[B][I]"CRICKET IS NOT CRICKET WITHOUT SHAHID AFRIDI"- MICHAEL HOLDING[/I][/B]

I think they should play one series at home, then next year one series away, then miss 1-2 years and start it again. but the series should have atleast 4 tests

What I would like to see is the same as second post. Have a ashes type series every summer after 2 years. test matches and odis. we can name it imran-dev trophy. In the middle we can scedule 1 at the minimum to as many matches. It can be the world cup the VB series, Natwest series or any kind. Just have 1 or 2 matches in middle. but thier should be an ashes type series

I think it should be named as Salim-Azhar trophy and u all know y...

this is a good step by both boards, i think it was necessary to do this to preserve the integrity of pak-india contests. plus, an india-pak series every single year leaves too little time for either team to play other teams in the world. a 2-year cycle is a good enough time gap, its working for the ashes and for a very good reason. in between the ashes, each team gets enough opportunities to play against other teams and solidify their status. since the last pak-ind series, we've only really had two full tours, against west indies and england. to me personally, it honestly feels like just such a short time ago when pak won in india, but that doesn't mean i'm not eagerly waiting for the series to start.

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I'd like to see things from your point of view, but I can't insert my head that far up my a**.

i think that thats good and bad-- the good thing is that ppl will be more excitied since the matches are gonna occur later than usual-- the bad thing is that i also have to wait !!!