Former English cricketer David Lloyd has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to stop pre-scheduling India vs Pakistan matches in major tournaments. Lloyd argues that consistently placing the two teams in the same group feels like “fixing” and detracts from the sport’s integrity.
Since 2013, India and Pakistan have faced each other in every ICC event, including the 50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy. While these matchups are highly anticipated by fans, Lloyd believes they should occur naturally through random draws rather than being pre-determined.
During a TalkSPORT interview, Lloyd criticized the ICC for manipulating fixtures to ensure high-profile matches. He emphasized that the excitement of an India vs Pakistan game comes from its unpredictability and organic occurrence.
Lloyd also highlighted issues with the 2024 T20 World Cup scheduling, noting unfair practices such as unequal rest days for teams and different rules for the semi-finals. He pointed out that India has not played any day-night games to cater to prime-time TV audiences, suggesting that commercial interests are overshadowing fair competition.
Lloyd’s remarks reflect broader concerns about the fairness and transparency of ICC tournament scheduling, urging the council to prioritize the sport’s integrity over commercial benefits.
