Pakistan's Inability To Play India In Bilateral Events Has Cost Them Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In The Past Decade - Michael Atherton

Former England captain Michael Atherton expressed his sympathies for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for losing out on a huge amount of money due to not being able to host India because of the political tensions between the two nations.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2013, when Pakistan toured their neighbours for 2 T20Is and 3 ODIs. They only meet in Asia Cups and ICC events. The two teams have not clashed in a Test series since 2007.

Michael Atherton also pointed out that the PCB couldn’t host international cricket in Pakistan for the better part of the last decade, after Sri Lanka’s bus attack in 2009.

“Pakistan’s inability to play India in bilateral events has cost them hundreds of millions of dollars in the past decade, or how being in exile in the UAE for nearly a decade cost significant amounts of financial and psychological capital,” Michael Atherton wrote in his column for The Times

Since the pandemic began, Pakistan have traveled all over the world: Michael Atherton

Michael Atherton also highlighted that Pakistan have toured many countries in the pandemic era and didn’t pull out of their commitment. In contrast, powerful boards such as Cricket Australia and the ECB have withdrawn their sides from touring.

“When England have pulled out of tours to South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and when Australia have played no Test matches away from home since the pandemic began, Pakistan have traveled all over the world (and, remember, there are no touring fees paid to the visitors these days). Pakistan have played the most number of matches away from home since Covid struck, by some distance,” the commentator added.

India and Pakistan will next clash in their opening encounter on October 24 in Dubai. They will then meet New Zealand, Afghanistan, and two other teams who will qualify from Round 1 in the Super 12 stage.

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