Why Do We Play Only Three Tests Against Pakistan?

According to the fable it was a young boy who was the first to notice that the Emperor wasn't wearing any clothes. I was reminded of this fable today, when my wife asked me why England only play three Tests against Pakistan, but five against Australia. As I realised that there was no sensible answer this question, the scales fell from my eyes and the true indolence of the ICC was revealed to me!

Presumably the reasons are historical. When England first started playing India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka it must have been decided that these countries were only worthy of a three Test series due to the one-sided nature of the early matches. However, recent results clearly show how anachronistic this is, with England losing to Sri Lanka in 2003, managing only a draw against India in the home series of 2002 and a draw in the two(!) match series against Pakistan in the summer of 2001.

Perhaps there are economic arguments for usually playing five Tests against Australia, South Africa and the West Indies while playing only three Tests against Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, but considering the fanatical support cricket enjoys amongst Asians, both in the Sub-Continent and in Britain, this doesn't make sense.

The ICC should act to standardise the number of Tests played between nations. If cricket is to progress its fans must be able to answer the simple question that is the title of this blog entry. No fan should have to feel like the naked Emperor!