Despite not playing each other in a bilateral series since early 2013, India and Pakistan have consistently faced off in every ICC event over the past decade. This rivalry began with the 2013 Champions Trophy and has continued through all editions of the 50-over World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and subsequent Champions Trophy tournaments. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan matches are a significant draw for audiences, particularly in ICC events.
However, former English cricketer David Lloyd, known affectionately as “Bumble,” expressed his concerns about the pre-scheduling of these matches. During a conversation on TalkSPORT, Lloyd suggested that the ICC should avoid deliberately pooling India and Pakistan in the same group to ensure at least one match between them. He believes that such “fixing” of matches detracts from the natural competition of the sport.
“Not in the slightest,” he stated. “You just spoke about the independence of the fixtures. We talk long and hard about fixing in cricket. That’s fixed. It’s just fixed for a major event. I think the romance of anything like this if they do get drawn together – not that they are – but if they do, there is a romance to it. There’s something for spectators to look forward to. So if it happens, then it becomes an event. The game itself is an event. You can’t fix it. And that’s only part of what we fix. We fix loads to stuff. In this particular World Cup, you’re just trying to manipulate. It’s just wrong.”
The scheduling and formatting of the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, particularly in the Super 8s stage, have faced significant criticism. One of the main issues is the tight schedule, with teams having very short breaks between matches. For instance, Australia has had no breaks between their games, and other teams have only had one-day gaps. This single day is often spent traveling, which leaves players with virtually no time to rest or practice. The lack of adequate recovery and preparation time has raised concerns about player welfare and the overall quality of the competition.
David Lloyd has pointed out additional issues:
David Lloyd has pointed out additional issues with the 2024 T20 World Cup, highlighting inconsistencies and perceived biases in the tournament’s organization. One notable concern is the differing rules for the semi-finals: the India vs. England semi-final does not have a reserve day, whereas the South Africa vs. Afghanistan semi-final does.
Lloyd also criticized the scheduling of India’s matches, noting that India has not played a single day-night game during the tournament. This scheduling appears to be influenced by the desire to cater to Indian audiences, who prefer watching games during prime-time hours. Lloyd argues that such decisions compromise the fairness and integrity of the competition, prioritizing commercial interests over the sport itself.
“It just isn’t fair (to the teams),” he stated. “You can go round and round and talk about forever. We’re just manipulating the tournament for the benefit of a few. If you look at the TV audience in India, they would watch anything there and anytime. It is a religion. It is the be all and end all. They would watch it and so it must of such commercial value, that overrides the competition itself. And don’t tell me the ICC devises it. Who does it? Whoever it is, this operating group must be told that whilst you’re doing it, this must happen, that must happen and that it’s a bit unfair to the teams. Come up with the best World Cup you can, you can put together for the supporter.”
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