Atherton: India-Pakistan Cricket Matches Now Exploitative

Former England captain Michael Atherton has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider the scheduling of India versus Pakistan matches in major tournaments. The call comes after recent events in the Men’s Asia Cup, which culminated in an India victory over Pakistan in the final. Atherton, writing in The Times, acknowledged the economic and diplomatic value of these matches but argued that the current political situation necessitates a change. He pointed out that India and Pakistan have played each other in every ICC competition since 2013, including the recent Asia Cup where India won all three matches. Atherton emphasized the significant financial benefits these matches provide, contributing to the high value of broadcast rights for ICC tournaments. He cautioned that these fixtures have become a representation of broader tensions and criticized the ICC for exploiting the rivalry for commercial gain rather than promoting peace or sportsmanship. Atherton proposed that the fixture draw for future ICC events should be transparent and that the teams should not be forced to play each other every time.