Former England Captain Michael Atherton launched a terrible criticism of the International Criket Council (ICC) and accused the management body of priority of commercial profit over sports integrity. Atherton, who wrote in The Times, condemned the practice of ICC on the deliberate planning of India-Pakistan’s clash in the main tournaments, and instead called on the transparent process based on merit.
Atherton argued that high -voltage meetings between two nations, albeit extremely lucrative, undermined the essence of fair competition. Obviously, he emphasized the apparent tendency of ICC to earn rivalry, with apparently created accessories to maximize the viewer and income.
“Despite its shortage (perhaps partly, because of its lack) it is an accessory that bears a huge economic influence,” wrote Atherton, noting that the latest cycle of ICC broadcasting for 2023-27 is awarded for an estimated $ 3 billion-what is significantly inflated in India-Pakistan competitions.
Since 2013, both parties have not played a bilateral series and have only encountered ICC events due to tense diplomatic relations. According to Atherton, however, this forced exclusivity not only inflated the economic value of rivalry, but also turned it into an instrument for political theater.
India and Pakistan were drawn in the same group of ICC events more often than not.
“If cricket was once a vehicle for diplomacy, it is now, clearly, a representative for wider tension and propaganda,” he wrote, calling for administrators to protect the game from politicization.
Atherton warned that cricket risks would lose its moral and cultural balance, if it continues to serve as a platform for state stories. He claimed that tournament organizers must resist the temptation to manipulate schedules to satisfy commercial and political agendas.
“In any case, there is little justification for a serious sport that manipulates tournament accessories to suit its economic interests – and now that rivalry is used in other ways, there are even fewer reasons,” he added.
Atherton’s comments come in Awakening of the fractive Cup of Asiawho emphasized the risk of rivalry politicization in India-Pakistan. The tournament was spoiled by controversies outside the field, including a diplomatic spit during the ceremony of presenting the trophy. Indian refusal to accept the trophy from the chairman of the Pakistanic cricket council and the Minister of the Interior Mohsin Naqvi, FOllowed by Naqvi’s decision to maintain trophyHe caused outrage across the two nations.
The voltage was equally visible in the field. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake his hands with his Pakistani counterpart as a result of a panelgam attack – a gesture that became the main speaking. The Pakistanian cricket council was accused of unnecessary posture, while several Pakistani players made provocative gestures during their second meeting in the tournament.
Although the players were POHARANI ICC, Handshake Svub persisted to the finals. The line even spilled into the World Cup of Women, other ICC events. In the group game between India and Pakistan on Sunday, October 5, the captains of Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatim Sana refused to shake their hands on throwing, both teams avoided the usual routines before the match.
Yes, Asia Accessories Cup between India and Pakistan were generated by huge viewers’ figures, but the tension outside the field eventually overshadowed the cricket itself.
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Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
6th October 2025
