Former England captain and renowned cricket analyst Mike Atherton has suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should stop scheduling matches between Pakistan and India in future global tournaments.
After witnessing the tense atmosphere during the recent Asia Cup, where political friction overshadowed the spirit of the game, he shared his views in his column for The Times.
He wrote, “In the past, cricket diplomacy helped improve relations between the two nations, but now these matches have turned into instruments of tension and propaganda.”
The former captain admitted that Pakistan-India matches generate massive financial value, with broadcast rights reportedly sold for nearly three billion US dollars. However, he stressed that the essence of the game should never revolve around politics or hatred.
“If these matches are fueling disputes instead of promoting the sport, it is better to remove them from the schedule of global events,” Atherton stated.
India-Pakistan encounters remain among the most-watched sporting events in the world. However, the recent Asia Cup highlighted increasing hostility between the two sides.
Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers during the tournament, and after winning the final, the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi.