Mike Atherton Criticizes ICC for ‘Neatly Arranged’ India vs Pakistan Matches in Global Events

Mike Atherton Criticizes ICC: Former England captain Mike Atherton has stirred a major debate in the cricketing world by accusing the International Cricket Council (ICC) of deliberately arranging fixtures to guarantee India-Pakistan clashes in global tournaments. In a sharply worded column for The Times, London, Atherton argued that these matchups have been “neatly arranged” to serve economic interests rather than sporting merit.

Atherton claimed that since 2013, India and Pakistan have faced each other in the group stage of every ICC event, including three 50-over World Cups, five T20 World Cups, and three Champions Trophy tournaments — regardless of the competition format. According to him, this recurring fixture pattern is not coincidental but a financially motivated strategy to boost global viewership and advertising revenue.

“India and Pakistan have played each other in the group stage of every ICC event since 2013… whether it’s a round-robin or multi-group format, the draws have been neatly arranged to ensure the fixture happens,” Atherton wrote.

The former England skipper pointed out that the India-Pakistan rivalry, while historically intense, has turned into a commercial spectacle — one that overshadows the spirit of competition. He suggested that the sport is being used as a proxy for political propaganda, rather than a bridge for diplomacy.

Atherton also cited the recent Asia Cup controversies, where tensions escalated after the Indian team reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, and Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi — a Pakistani official — was left holding the winner’s trophy alone after India’s victory.

Atherton further highlighted that the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to heightened tensions between the two nations, has only deepened the divide. Despite this, ICC tournaments continue to feature Indo-Pak matches — a decision he says is driven purely by financial stakes.

“The India-Pakistan fixture carries huge economic clout. It’s one of the main reasons ICC broadcast rights are worth around USD 3 billion for the 2023–27 cycle,” Atherton noted.

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He argued that the “tacitly supported arrangement” between broadcasters, organizers, and cricket boards should end, calling for transparent tournament draws in the next broadcast cycle. According to him, if India and Pakistan don’t meet every time, it should be accepted as a natural outcome — not manipulated for profit.

“If cricket was once a vehicle for diplomacy, it has now become a proxy for propaganda,” Atherton wrote, insisting that sport should not be exploited to serve political or economic agendas.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and the Indian government has since imposed a blanket ban on bilateral sports with Pakistan — even at neutral venues. However, both teams continue to face off in multilateral events, in compliance with Olympic Charter obligations.

Atherton concluded by urging the ICC to prioritize sporting integrity over commercial gains, saying that cricket’s credibility depends on fairness — not on orchestrated rivalries that “cash in on tension.”