David Lloyd on the ‘fixed’ India-Pakistan match at ICC events: ‘It’s plain immoral, you’re manipulating the audience’

The deep and rich cricketing history that the two countries share is what makes the India-Pakistan match so captivating. Its grandeur is greatly enhanced by their many dramatic past clashes with a variety of outstanding players. Moreover, the intense expectation around these games is heightened by the intricate geopolitical background between the nations, making it an intensely disputed and passionate battle.

Still, the real beauty of any occasion is usually enhanced by its rarity. The previous bilateral white-ball series between India and Pakistan, which took place in the 2012–13 season, lacked the element of surprise and uniqueness. From that point on, the two sides have always played each other in the Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup, and 50-over World Cup, among other key ICC competitions. Furthermore, these matches have regularly taken place in the group stages rather than the later stages, a tendency that prominent commentator and former English cricket player David Lloyd has deemed deceptive and troublesome.

David Lloyd declared that he was adamantly against the custom of often pairing Pakistan and India together at significant occasions just for show David Lloyd said that the fixtures’ authenticity is compromised by their preset arrangement. David Lloyd argued against prearranging these fixtures months in advance and in favour of letting them happen organically.

He pointed out the irony of cricket’s strict anti-match-fixing policy, which goes unchecked despite the inevitable India-Pakistan matches in every tournament group stage.

“You just mentioned how fixtures are independent. We discuss cricket fixing in great detail. That’s now repaired. It’s ready for a big occasion. If they do end up together—which I don’t think will happen—there is, in my opinion, a certain romance to anything like this. Viewers have something exciting to anticipate. Thus, it becomes an event if it occurs. The actual game is an event. It is unfixable by you. And we just correct a portion of it. We fix a lot of things. You’re just trying to control this World Cup, that’s all. Lloyd said, “It’s just wrong,” in an interview with talkSPORT.

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There has also been a great deal of criticism directed towards the current tournament’s schedule and structure, especially with reference to the Super 8s stage. The teams have been given very little time to recuperate; some have only been given one day off in between games, while Australia has not been given any time off at all. Travel takes up the short reprieve, giving athletes essentially little time for practice or rehabilitation.

“It just isn’t fair (to the teams),” he stated. You could talk about anything and everything for ages. All we’re doing is rigging the competition to benefit a select few. The Indian TV audience is one that will watch anything, anywhere, at any time. It belongs to a religion. It is the ultimate and final thing. Since they would watch it, it must have such a high commercial worth that it surpasses the rivalry.

And don’t tell me it’s created by the ICC. Who takes the action? Whoever it is, you need to let this operating group know that, while you’re at it, certain things have to happen, like this and that, and that it’s a little unfair to the teams. Provide the fan with the greatest World Cup you can put together.”