Former England captain Michael Atherton has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider scheduling India-Pakistan matches in international tournaments, citing the controversy surrounding the Asia Cup 2025.
The eight-team tournament concluded on September 28, with India defeating Pakistan in the final. However, the event attracted more attention for off-field tensions than on-field cricket. 
The discord began following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, with the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refusing to shake hands with Pakistan on September 14.
Tensions escalated during the Super 4s when Pakistan&rsquo;s Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, and Sahibzada Farhan reportedly made provocative gestures. 
The drama culminated with India declining the Asia Cup trophy from ACC and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan&rsquo;s Interior Minister.
Atherton acknowledged the economic and diplomatic incentives behind India-Pakistan fixtures but said the current political climate makes such matches ununtenable.
&ldquo;Despite its rarity, the India-Pakistan match carries huge economic clout &mdash; a major reason ICC broadcast rights are worth nearly $3 billion for 2023&ndash;27,&rdquo; he noted.
He added that cricket encounters between the two nations have increasingly become &ldquo;a proxy for broader tensions,&rdquo; accusing the ICC of prioritizing profits over sportsmanship.
&ldquo;If cricket was once a vehicle for diplomacy, it&rsquo;s now being used for propaganda. The ICC must stop arranging fixtures merely to boost revenues,&rdquo; Atherton wrote.
He recommended that future ICC tournament draws be conducted transparently, emphasizing that if India and Pakistan do not meet in every event, &ldquo;so be it.&rdquo;
India and Pakistan have faced each other in every ICC tournament since 2013, including three matches in the 2025 Asia Cup, with India winning all three encounters.

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Atherton Urges ICC To Rethink India-Pakistan Match

Ex-England captain Atherton says political tensions make India-Pakistan fixtures risky

October 6, 2025 | 16:11 IST