‘Fixture manipulation’: Atherton calls out ICC over India-Pakistan match scheduling

Former England cricket captain Michael Atherton has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of deliberately scheduling fixtures to ensure regular clashes between Pakistan and India in major tournaments.

Writing in his column for The Times (UK), Atherton said the ICC’s scheduling decisions appear to be driven by commercial and diplomatic motives, pointing out that the two sides have met in the group stage of all 11 ICC events since 2013.

“Despite its rarity — or perhaps because of it — the fixture carries huge economic clout,” he wrote, noting that the India-Pakistan rivalry is a key factor in why ICC broadcast rights for the 2023–27 cycle are valued at around $3 billion.

Atherton’s comments follow last month’s Asia Cup, where the two rivals met three times, including in the final — a tournament marked by on-field tensions and unsportsmanlike behaviour.

He added that the fixture has shifted from being a symbol of cricket diplomacy to a platform for political and emotional display, arguing that “there is little justification for manipulating fixtures purely for economic gain.”

Atherton urged the ICC to introduce greater transparency in future tournament draws, saying that if the two sides do not face each other every time, “so be it.”