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In a bold and provocative statement, legendary Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has challenged Team India to a 10-match series across all formats following Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Mushtaq’s comments come in the wake of Pakistan’s dismal performance in the tournament, where they failed to win a single match and were eliminated in the group stage.
India’s Continued Dominance Over Pakistan in ICC Events
India’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai during the Champions Trophy extended their unbeaten streak against their arch-rivals in ICC tournaments since 2017. The one-sided nature of the contest has reignited debates about the competitiveness of the historic India-Pakistan rivalry, with many questioning whether Pakistan can still match India’s prowess on the global stage.
Following Pakistan’s elimination, Saqlain Mushtaq took to the 24 News HD channel to address the growing gap between the two teams. He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to set aside political differences and schedule a multi-format series to determine the superior team.
Saqlain Mushtaq’s Fiery Challenge
“If we keep political things aside, their players are outstanding, and they have been playing good cricket. If you are a good team, let’s play 10 Tests, 10 ODIs, and 10 T20Is against Pakistan—then everything would become clear.
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,” Mushtaq said.
His challenge has sparked widespread discussion among cricket fans, with many eager to see a full-fledged series between the two cricketing giants. However, given the political tensions between India and Pakistan, such a series remains highly unlikely in the near future.
Pakistan’s Disastrous Champions Trophy Campaign
Pakistan’s group-stage exit from their home Champions Trophy was a major disappointment for fans and critics alike. The team’s performance was far from convincing, with a series of underwhelming displays:
- Lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in the opening game
- Suffered a six-wicket defeat against India
- Final group match against Bangladesh was washed out
With just one point from three games, Pakistan finished at the bottom of Group A, marking their third consecutive early exit from an ICC white-ball tournament. This follows their group-stage exit in the 2023 ODI World Cup and early elimination in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
One of the most glaring issues for Pakistan was their batting approach, with the team facing an alarming number of dot balls:
- 161 dot balls vs New Zealand
- 147 dot balls vs India
Sunil Gavaskar’s Take on an India-Pakistan Bilateral Series
Earlier, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the possibility of an India-Pakistan bilateral series, emphasizing the need for peace between the two nations:
“The only way a series can happen is when there is peace at the borders.”
Gavaskar’s comments highlight the political and logistical challenges that continue to prevent any bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan. While Saqlain Mushtaq’s challenge adds spice to the rivalry, the reality is that fans may have to wait longer to see the two teams face off outside of ICC events.
What’s Next for India and Pakistan?
For now, India remains unbeaten against Pakistan in ICC events since 2017, further cementing their dominance in world cricket. Meanwhile, Pakistan will need to rebuild and regroup after yet another disappointing tournament performance.
While Saqlain Mushtaq’s challenge has ignited excitement among cricket enthusiasts, the prospect of a 10-match series remains a distant dream. Until then, fans can only hope for more thrilling encounters in ICC tournaments, where the Indo-Pak rivalry continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
