Former England captain Michael Atherton has called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to completely stop arranging India-Pakistan clashes in ICC tournaments, especially after the tense and controversial incidents during last month’s Asia Cup 2025.
Writing for The Times, Atherton explained that the ICC has historically scheduled these high-profile matches due to economic and diplomatic reasons. Since 2013, India and Pakistan have faced each other in 11 ICC events, mostly during group stages.
Atherton noted,
“These matches are economically significant, likely because ICC’s broadcasting rights for 2023-27 are worth nearly $3 billion.”
He added that the financial success of ICC events heavily depends on India-Pakistan games.
However, Atherton stressed that the recent Asia Cup incidents show it’s time to end this “quietly supported arrangement.” He stated:
He suggested that the ICC should schedule matches transparently, without the expectation that India and Pakistan face each other every time.
“If cricket was once a tool for diplomacy, it now seems a platform for broader tensions and propaganda. It’s not justified to organize matches for economic gain, especially when resentments are exploited in other ways.”
During Asia Cup 2025, India and Pakistan met three times, including the final. The tournament sparked controversy when India’s captain Surya Kumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Agha, highlighting the growing political tensions in cricket.
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