Amid growing politicisation of Pakistan-India cricket encounters, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rejected calls to separate the two nations in future ICC tournaments.
The board’s response comes after former England captain Michael Atherton, writing in The Times (UK), criticized the ICC’s apparent tendency to manufacture high-stakes clashes between the arch-rivals. Atherton argued that the rivalry which was once a celebration of cricketing excellence, has now been reduced to a political spectacle by the two countries and tournament organisers are exploiting it for commercial gain. He urged the ICC to adopt transparent fixture draws and rethink its approach.
However, Indian media reports quote a senior BCCI official dismissing the idea, citing financial financial realities. “It’s easy to talk about all this, but will sponsors and broadcasters agree to it? In today’s situation, if any major team, not just India, withdraws from a tournament, it will be difficult to attract sponsors,” the official said.
Atherton’s remarks follow the fiery Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan and India clashed three times, each match marred by controversy and tension which continued even after the games ended. The unease spilled into the Women’s ODI World Cup as well, where players Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana notably avoided customary greetings.
Pakistan-India fixtures are believed to be a cornerstone of the ICC’s current broadcast deal, reportedly valued at around $3 billion for the 2023–27 cycle and the BCCI, it seems, is unwilling to disrupt this lucrative arrangement.
Since 2013, the two sides have met in the group stages of every ICC event, 11 times in total. While these matches continue to draw massive global viewership, critics argue that the frequency has diluted the sporting spirit and heightened political undertones are setting an unsportsmanlike like precedent. Atherton warns that unless the ICC intervenes, cricket risks becoming “a diplomatic tool rather than a serious sport.”
For now, it appears another Pakistan-India showdown may be on the horizon in the T20I World Cup, controversy or no
