Atherton Calls for a Halt to India-Pakistan Cricket Matches in Major Tournaments

Michael Atherton, former captain of England, has urged the ICC to reconsider the scheduling of India-Pakistan matches in significant cricket tournaments. This appeal comes in the wake of the recent Asia Cup, where India defeated Pakistan in the final. Atherton’s concerns stem from the controversy and political undertones that have increasingly overshadowed the sport. In an article for The Times, Atherton acknowledged the financial and diplomatic importance of these matches but believes that the current political climate necessitates their discontinuation. He noted that India and Pakistan have been competing in every ICC competition since 2013, including multiple encounters in the latest Asia Cup. Atherton emphasized the substantial economic benefits derived from these matches, which significantly contribute to the value of broadcast rights for ICC tournaments. He cautioned that these fixtures have moved beyond the realm of sport, becoming symbols of wider political tensions. Atherton criticized the ICC for exploiting the rivalry for commercial purposes and proposed that the fixture draw process for future ICC events should be transparent, potentially leading to the teams not facing each other every time.