/ Frank Gregan / 09 November 2009 / Leave a comment

As Pakistan carry on their search for neutral venues in which to play their cricket, news has arrived that the USA has stepped forward as a potential host for their clashes with none other than....India. Frank Gregan wonders whether this is a good idea.

"Cricket is everything to the supporters of the two sub-continent giants. Contests between them shouldn't start with a toss of a coin, lighting the blue touch paper would be more appropriate!"

The USACA, the United States of America Cricket Association, (now there's a title many thought would never be seen) have repeated their desire to host international matches on American soil. Of course, being Americans, they can't do things gradually, little acorns and all that don't apply to the Yanks. "Just plant a three hundred year old oak and tie a few yellow ribbons around it" has always been their maxim. Consequently they are not looking at inviting Holland or Scotland over for a couple of Twenty20s and a one-day series involving themselves.

No sir - cue the duelling banjos - the Americans are volunteering to stage matches in all formats between Pakistan and India. Wow, talk about running before you can walk. That's like attempting to beat Usain Bolt's record straight after potty training! I've worked in America and it's true that some of them have a very insular mentality; millions don't hold passports and have very little regard for anything that happens outside their borders but even they must realise that Pakistan and India are not exactly the best of buddies. Cricket is everything to the supporters of the two sub-continent giants. Contests between them shouldn't start with a toss of a coin, lighting the blue touch paper would be more appropriate!

It's like offering to host a shooting competition between Israel and Iran! They have an ICC- approved stadium in Florida which holds 8000 and that might just be enough room for both sets of officials! On a serious note though, it is great that the Americans are starting to embrace the game and that they have plans to expand the operation and build more stadiums throughout the country.

The game has taken off in the States as many had predicted it would as a result of Twenty20. The younger generation love it and record numbers are signing up to play the game. Baseball will always be the bat-and-ball game of the nation but there is no doubt that there is room for another sport of a similar nature. Critics used to say that 'soccer' would never be able to compete with the NFL. It has been proved that it doesn't have to, there is enough space in the market for both to flourish.

If India and Pakistan could introduce to the US a product of the same calibre as the fayre that has been dished up during the current one-day series between the Indians and the Australians then the USACA would surely be onto a winner. Between them they have produced some cracking games and it is a pity (even though I recommended and backed the Aussies to win the series!) that the last leg will be a dead rubber.

Australia were available to back at [6.0] when they trailed 2-1 but have won three games on the spin to secure a series victory. The fifth game in Hyderabad was as good a match that you could wish to see in any format. It was sublime! Australia amassed a whopping 350 and looked to be home and hosed before the "little master", Sachin Tendulkar, set about crafting an innings that was so very nearly a match winner.

He occupied the crease for three and a half hours scoring 175 runs with a strike rate of 124! It was bordering on criminal that his knock didn't win the game but the tail was unable to wag enough to get the Indians home. They came up four runs short of their target in a match that produced 697 runs - fantastic entertainment!

The final game takes place on Wednesday in Calcutta and Betfairians are banking on Australian apathy being the order of the day now that they have won the series. India are [1.73] to restore a little bit of pride whilst the victorious Aussies are available at [2.34]. A 5-2 defeat will be hard to swallow for an Indian side that has played some great stuff throughout the series. However, at [2.34] Australia are the value. Remember - apathy is not something that an Australian cricketer has in his locker!

Tags: cricket bets, cricket odds, India cricket team, Pakistan cricket team, playing cricket in America, Sachin Tendulkar, USa cricket, USA Cricket association