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Former England captain Michael Atherton has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of intentionally scheduling matches to ensure that Pakistan and India regularly compete against each other in major tournaments.<\/p>\n
Atherton\u2019s remarks come in the wake of the tension and controversy that followed last month\u2019s Asia Cup, where the two arch-rivals met three times, including in the final.<\/p>\n
The event was marred by heated exchanges and unsportsmanlike gestures from both sides, while India\u2019s captain Suryakumar Yadav also refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Agha.<\/p>\n
The animosity extended beyond the men\u2019s event, as the skippers of both women\u2019s teams, Fatima Sana and Harmanpreet Kaur, also avoided shaking hands after their ODI Women\u2019s World Cup match in Colombo on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Writing in his column for The Times<\/i> (UK), Atherton acknowledged that the ICC\u2019s decision to schedule India-Pakistan fixtures in global tournaments has strong commercial and diplomatic motivations. <\/p>\n
The two teams have faced each other in the group stage of all 11 ICC events held since 2013.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite its rarity \u2014 or perhaps because of it \u2014 the fixture carries huge economic clout,\u201d Atherton wrote. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is one of the main reasons why ICC tournament broadcast rights are valued so highly, around $3 billion for the 2023\u201327 cycle,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He further noted that with bilateral cricket losing financial value, ICC events have grown in importance, making the India-Pakistan clash a crucial factor for broadcasters and stakeholders.<\/p>\n
However, the former England skipper argued that the match has now become a platform for political and emotional display rather than sporting competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf cricket was once a vehicle for diplomacy, it has now clearly become a proxy for broader tensions and propaganda,\u201d Atherton stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is little justification for a serious sport to manipulate tournament fixtures purely for economic benefit. Given how the rivalry is being exploited, there is even less reason to continue this practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 57-year-old concluded by urging the ICC to ensure transparency in future tournament draws.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the next broadcast rights cycle, the fixture draw should be transparent \u2014 and if India and Pakistan don\u2019t meet every time, so be it.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n