The UK-based Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its growing political influence over the global game. In its 163rd annual edition, the publication described the Indian board as a "sporting adjunct of India’s ruling BJP."
Editor Lawrence Booth accused the sport's governing bodies of allowing Indian political interests to dominate cricket administration. He specifically pointed to the leadership of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which currently features an Indian chairman, Jay Shah, and an Indian chief executive, Sanjog Gupta.
Booth noted that Shah, who previously led the BCCI, is the son of India’s minister of home affairs and a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Cricket as a proxy for conflict
The publication highlighted how geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have bled into the pitch. During the 2025 Asia Cup, players from both nations refused to shake hands following a period of conflict between the two countries.
Booth cited a specific incident where India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated a victory over Pakistan to the Indian armed forces. The editor also noted a post on X from Prime Minister Modi, who compared the cricket victory to "Operation Sindoor," a real-world military operation that resulted in significant casualties on both sides of the border.
"The idea that cricket was now a legitimate proxy for more lethal activity was hammered home," Booth wrote.
The Almanack also detailed the fallout involving Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. Rahman was released from a $1 million deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders following rising tensions between India and Bangladesh.
This dispute eventually contributed to Bangladesh's removal from the men’s T20 World Cup after the Bangladeshi government blocked travel to India. Booth characterized the current state of global cricket governance as "increasingly Orwellian."