From sizzle to fizzle: The lost spark of India-Pakistan cricket

A couple of Sundays in England in 2017 were quite different from the last weekend here in Dubai. On June 4, 2017, the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham was packed with crowds, eagerly anticipating the India-Pakistan group-stage fixture. Long before the match began, the Warwickshire county ground was buzzing and teeming with energy, just as the Oval in London would be two weeks later.

Vault to the present, and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) struggled to fill the stands on February 23 for this marquee game of the tournament. While it eventually reached capacity, it took time to do so. The same teams, the same competition, and a similarly large presence of expats from both countries were all here, just like there are in the UK. Yet, the magic and buzz of the 2017 Champions Trophy were clearly not visible.

It may not be hard to discern the reason, though. Recent results between the two teams have been one-sided, with the outcomes frequently favoring one side. Aaqib Javed, the coach of the Pakistan team, may argue that "An India-Pakistan match, even if it comes after 10 wins or 6 losses, cannot diminish the beauty of the contest." But the reality is different. The Pakistan coach, it would seem, is stuck in a time warp, much like his team.

Gone is the time when India-Pakistan fixtures used to be the greatest cricketing rivalry in the game. And the numbers suggest as much. Since the turn of the century, in Test matches, India lead 4-3; in ODIs, India have 29 wins to Pakistan's 21; and in T20Is, India stand at nine victories while Pakistan have just three. More pertinently, Pakistan have not won a single ODI against India since the 2017 Champions Trophy final. An Indian win over Pakistan has, in recent times, become almost a routine and predictable affair.

Generally, there are three aspects to the rivalry: cricketing intensity, emotional quotient, and commercial value. Normally, it is the first aspect that influences the other two. One cannot ignore that the thrill and excitement of these contests are gradually fading, largely because Pakistan are no longer the powerhouse they once were.

"We are still stuck with Nokia Torch mobile phones while the world is getting used to iPhone 16," says famous YouTuber and podcaster from Pakistan Irshad Bhatti, describing the Rizwan side. That was one of the metaphorical allusions in the Pakistan media about their team's Champions Trophy defeat to India. Shahid Afridi converted that into cricketing context.

"In 2025 Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style. We need a complete overhaul of the system so that we can produce players with an aggressive mindset."

Afridi, perhaps the last biggest star to emerge from Pakistan, dwells on the topic further. "If we talk about match-winners, I'd say that India has more match-winners compared to Pakistan. Right now, we don't have such players in Pakistan. India's strength lies in its middle and lower order, which has been winning them matches."

Experts increasingly feel that the rivalry is losing its fizz. Bazid Khan, former Pakistan cricketer and now a prominent broadcaster in Pakistan, reflects, "For the first time in several years, I didn't feel nervousness either within me or among those around me (before the recent game). There was not much excitement. It was clear that the gulf between the sides is vast, and India is a much stronger team. We were only hoping for a miracle." He adds, "The game was bahut thanda (very dull). Obviously India are the best, Pakistan are lagging behind."

Harish Thawani, who has worked with both the ICC and the PCB, attributes the lack of intensity to several factors. "Pakistan is a weaker, if not the weakest, team in the competition. Secondly, there are no superstars in the side anymore. When players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar were in the team, there was a certain aura about them. Babar Azam, their current biggest star, has not made a significant impact in the last two years. There is no fear factor in this Pakistan team anymore."