DUBAI: Former England captain Michael Atherton has launched a scathing critique of the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing the governing body of “manufacturing” repeated India-Pakistan fixtures in major tournaments for commercial and political gain rather than sporting fairness.
Atherton’s remarks come after last month’s Asia Cup, where the two arch-rivals met three times — including in a tense final marred by confrontations and unsportsmanlike conduct. The rivalry’s intensity has also spilled into the women’s game, as captains Fatima Sana and Harmanpreet Kaur declined to shake hands following their Women’s World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday.
Writing in his column for The Times (UK), Atherton argued that the ICC’s scheduling practices are “no coincidence” and serve the interests of broadcasters and sponsors eager to capitalise on cricket’s most-watched contest.
“Despite its rarity — or perhaps because of it — the fixture holds immense economic power,” he wrote. “It’s a major reason why ICC broadcast rights are valued at nearly $3 billion for the 2023–27 cycle.”
Atherton noted that with bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan effectively frozen, ICC tournaments have become the only setting for the rivalry — transforming it into a lucrative asset.
However, he warned that the game’s administrators risk compromising cricket’s credibility by turning the contest into a spectacle of nationalism rather than genuine competition.
“Cricket was once seen as a tool of diplomacy,” Atherton stated. “Now it has become a stage for political symbolism and propaganda. Manipulating fixtures purely for profit undermines the spirit of the sport.”
Calling for reform, the 57-year-old urged the ICC to ensure transparent and impartial tournament draws in the future.
“The next broadcast cycle must include an open draw process,” he wrote. “If India and Pakistan don’t face each other every time, so be it.”
India and Pakistan have met in the group stages of all 11 ICC events since 2013, a pattern that continues to raise eyebrows among former players and analysts.
Their most recent encounter took place on September 28, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, drawing massive global viewership — and renewed criticism of the ICC’s motives.
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