NEW YORK: The New York Times has openly criticized the Indian cricket board (BCCI) for its alleged misconduct and highlighted the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) apparent double standards in handling regional cricket disputes.
In its report, the newspaper wrote that due to the complex political situation in the region, the game of cricket has increasingly become a casualty of politics.
The report noted that the Pakistan-India match is regarded as the most intensely competitive contest in world cricket.
According to the article, in 2019, one Pakistan-India match was watched by 250 million people on television and 50 million more on digital platforms.
In the 2025 Champions Trophy, India refused to travel to Pakistan to play. Now, in the T20 World Cup, Pakistan has decided not to travel to India.
However, Bangladesh’s request not to play its matches in India due to security concerns was rejected by the ICC, which replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the event.
The report stated that media rights partner JioStar has already approached the ICC twice to renegotiate its $3 billion agreement due to the impact on broadcasting revenue.
The newspaper pointed out historical precedents: In 1996, Australia and West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka, and in 2003, England refused to play in Zimbabwe—yet none of these countries faced any penalties.
In contrast, Bangladesh has now been excluded and replaced by Scotland.
The report linked the current tensions to the Pahalgam incident and subsequent military confrontations, which have also affected cricketing relations.
Similarly, the issue involving Sheikh Hasina has created deep rifts in India-Bangladesh cricket ties, with the world’s eighth-most populous country ultimately paying the price by being ousted from the World Cup.
The New York Times highlighted that ICC Chairman Jay Shah is the son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah.
Both father and son have established significant influence not only in Indian politics but also in cricket administration.
According to the report, India accounts for 40% of the ICC’s total revenue.
This unequal revenue distribution has deepened the imprint of politics and power on what is supposed to be the world’s most popular sport.
The article clearly stated that rising Indian dominance in the ICC prompted Pakistan to cancel its traditional rivalry match against India.
The Pakistan-India match was expected to generate $250 million in revenue, and its cancellation now poses a major financial risk to the ICC.
The New York Times concluded that India’s growing monopoly represents a serious threat to the future of global cricket, and urged India to keep cricket above its politics for the healthy promotion of sport in the region.
