UK-based Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has issued a stinging critique of India’s “unhealthy and politicised” control over global cricket, describing the current state of the game’s administration as “increasingly Orwellian.”
In its 163rd annual edition, which is regarded as the sport’s “bible,” editor Lawrence Booth highlights a growing trend of political interference originating from New Delhi, according to report by Al Jazeera.
The report points to the significant presence of Indian officials at the helm of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which currently features Jay Shah as chairman and Sanjog Gupta as chief executive.
Shah, who formerly led the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is the son of Amit Shah, India’s Minister of Home Affairs and a close confidant of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Wisden explicitly characterises the BCCI as a “sporting adjunct” of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Politicisation of the pitch
The Almanack draws attention to the 2025 Asia Cup, which was overshadowed by a brief military conflict between India and Pakistan. The tension was palpable on the field, with players from both nations refusing to shake hands.
Booth criticised the hypocrisy of officials, noting that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi – who claimed sport and politics should not mix – simultaneously serves as his country’s Interior Minister.
Further evidence of this political entanglement was seen when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated an Asia Cup victory over Pakistan to the Indian armed forces.
Modi also drew direct parallels between cricket and military conflict on social media following India’s win in the final. He compared the victory to “Operation Sindoor,” a real-world military engagement that resulted in numerous deaths on both sides of the border.
Consequences for Bangladesh
The report also details how these geopolitical tensions have directly impacted Bangladesh. Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman saw a $1 million deal with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders terminated amid rising friction between the two countries.
This incident triggered a series of events that ultimately led to Bangladesh’s removal from this year’s men’s T20 World Cup after the government in Dhaka refused to permit the team to travel to India.
Booth argues that the sport’s governance now operates under a sense of “Indian exceptionalism,” where the actions of the powerful carry no consequences, while those “lower down the food chain” are penalised for the resulting fallout.
The editor concluded by noting that almost no major figures within Indian cricket have spoken out against the “carnage” caused by the politicisation of a sport that has never been more “poisoned” by real-world conflicts.
