There have been calls by India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir for his country and Pakistan to not share the cricket pitch amid the recent terror attack that had been witnessed. It seems the organisers have listened, as there are no upcoming fixtures between the two nations scheduled.
The two cricket boards have recently announced their teams’ fixtures for the next two years, and neither will be facing each other. It’s no surprise, as there has been a ban on the two facing each other in non-competition-related contests since 2013, and that does not appear to be coming to an end anytime soon.
Still, both nations remain top sides and could face each other in a competition. It’s something that many wouldn’t be surprised to see happen, especially as they both remain strong candidates to win whatever tournament they appear in. Sports bettors regularly recognise this, as do the sportsbooks that offer the odds.
When checking one of the best oversea sportsbook available, both India and Pakistan can typically be found near the top of the outright winner’s markets that are offered. With cricket being a hugely popular market for bettors, these two teams can often provide value because of the players their squads feature.
Still, it looks as though the two cricketing nations will be kept apart, giving Gambhir his wish that the two sides should not compete against each other.
What does the 2025 & 2026 cricket schedule look like for India and Pakistan?
The cricketing bodies of both countries revealed their upcoming cricket schedules, with the two staying apart from each other in Tests or ODIs. If they were to meet between 2025 and 2027, it would be because of competition play; although organisers may try to keep them apart as much as they can.
India’s 2025 schedule features the Pataudi Trophy against England as part of a five-Test series between June and August. A tour of Bangladesh had been scheduled to take place throughout the remainder of August (3 ODIs, 3 T20Is), but has since been moved to September 2026. The 2025 Asia Cup will feature the two teams playing against each other at least once in September, when the competition is held in the United Arab Emirates.
India will then host the West Indies in two Tests at the beginning of October, before heading to Australia to compete in three ODIs and five T20Is. To round out 2025, they will host South Africa and play two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is across November and December. The only tour announced for 2026 so far is the visit of New Zealand, scheduled to take place throughout January and involve white-ball cricket (five T20Is and three ODIs).
Pakistan’s schedule is looking a little more comprehensive, with the nation set to compete in numerous cricket matches over the next couple of years. They are set to take on Bangladesh in three T20Is in July 2025, before completing the month and part of August in the West Indies, playing three ODIs and three T20Is.
August will also feature white-ball cricket as they’ll face Afghanistan in three T20Is before competing in the Asia Cup. Home matches will then follow against Ireland (September/October – three ODIs and three T20Is), South Africa (October/November – two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is), Sri Lanka (November – three ODIs and three T20Is), and Australia (February 2026 – three T20Is).
The ICC Men’s World Cup will take place between February and March 2026, with home matches against Australia following in March (three ODIs). A Tour of Bangladesh is then scheduled for March and April (two tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is), before playing at home to Zimbabwe (three ODIs and three T20Is) between April and May.
Three consecutive trips will then follow as Pakistan will take on the West Indies (July/August – two Tests), England (August/September – three Tests), and Sri Lanka (October – three T20Is). A Tri-Series is scheduled to take place between October and November involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England, before two Tests are played at home against Sri Lanka in November. Two Test matches are scheduled to be played against New Zealand in March 2027.
why did Gautam Gambhir call for a ban on India-Pakistan matches?
“My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this doesn’t stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan,” he said just before India’s retaliation.
Back in May of this year (2025), India retaliated after a deadly Islamist militant attack was led by Pakistan on Kashmir. A total of 26 tourists were killed in the Himalayan region, which prompted India to take action. They would hit nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on May 7, just over two weeks on from the attack on April 22.
As noted, games have already been suspended between the two nations that aren’t competition-based because of tensions and conflict. If games are played, they are often at neutral venues to try to keep the peace.
However, it seems Gambhir wants the ban to be expanded further and prevent the two nations from clashing on the pitch amid the current situation.
