'Cricket now propaganda tool': Former England captain slams ICC for exploiting India-Pakistan rivalry

Former England captain Michael Atherton has sharply criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing it of prioritising commercial profit over the spirit of fair competition. In his column for The Times, Atherton condemned the ICC’s deliberate scheduling of India-Pakistan matches in major tournaments and called for a transparent, merit-based fixture system.

Atherton argued that while clashes between the two nations are immensely profitable, they erode the integrity of the sport. He claimed the ICC has been exploiting the rivalry’s marketability, tailoring tournament fixtures to maximise audience numbers and revenue.

“Despite its rarity—perhaps because of it—it’s a fixture with enormous economic pull,” Atherton wrote, pointing out that the ICC’s current broadcast rights cycle (2023–27) is worth an estimated $3 billion, inflated largely by India-Pakistan encounters.

Since 2013, India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series due to strained diplomatic ties, meeting only in ICC tournaments. Atherton noted that this exclusivity has amplified the rivalry’s economic worth while turning it into a vehicle for political posturing.

He criticised the frequent grouping of the two nations in ICC events, remarking, “If cricket was once a means of diplomacy, it is now a proxy for political tension and propaganda.” Atherton urged administrators to safeguard the sport from politicisation, warning that cricket risks losing its moral and cultural balance if it continues to serve as a stage for state-driven narratives.

“There is little justification for any serious sport to manipulate fixtures for financial gain—and now that the rivalry is being exploited politically, there is even less reason to do so,” he added.

Also Read: 'He’s not big enough to decide': Former India star slams Mohsin Naqvi over Asia Cup trophy row

Atherton’s remarks follow a contentious Asia Cup that exposed the dangers of politicising the India-Pakistan rivalry. The tournament saw diplomatic controversies off the field, including India’s refusal to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Naqvi’s subsequent decision to keep it—actions that inflamed tempers in both countries.

On the field, tensions ran high. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s refusal to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart after the Pahalgam attack became a flashpoint. Some Pakistani players responded with provocative gestures during the teams’ second encounter, leading to ICC reprimands. The strained relations even extended to the Women’s World Cup, where Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan’s Fatima Sana declined to shake hands at the toss before their October 5 match.

Though the Asia Cup’s India-Pakistan fixtures drew record-breaking viewership, the surrounding controversies ultimately overshadowed the cricket itself.