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Wisden Flags India's Growing Influence in Cricket, Calls It ...
Wisden has criticised Indian political interference in global cricket administration, labelling the current situation "increasingly Orwellian".The UK-based Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, which dates back to 1864, is an annual record of all major cricket worldwide and is regarded as the sport's "Bible".In its 163rd annual edition, to be published Thursday, editor Lawrence Booth highlighted what he sees as an unhealthy and politicised Indian dominance of the global game.Also Read: BCCI Cracks Down: IPL Teams Banned from Match-Day Practices, Wearing Floppies and Sleeveless JerseysIndia's Influence in World Cricket QuestionedThe International Cricket Council has an Indian chief executive, Sanjog Gupta, and an Indian chairman, Jay Shah, who is the son of Amit Shah, India's minister of home affairs and a longstanding ally of the prime minister, Narendra Modi.Wisden describes the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which Shah led before taking over at the ICC, as "the sporting adjunct of India's ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)".Booth also highlighted how politics intruded upon the 2025 Asia Cup, which took place against a backdrop of a brief military conflict between India and Pakistan, leading to the players refusing to shake hands when the border rivals played each other."Was there a clearer indictment of the game's governance in 2025 than Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi's assertion that 'politics and sport can't go together'?" Booth wrote. "Presumably, he had forgotten he was also his country's interior minister."Booth added: "It was obvious long before this latest grandstanding that the BCCI were the sporting adjunct of India's ruling BJP.‘Indian Exceptionalism’"But the relationship became explicit when India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the first of India's Asia Cup wins over Pakistan to the armed forces."And the idea that cricket was now a legitimate proxy for more lethal activity was hammered home on X by India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, after his country beat Pakistan in the final: 'Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins!' The real-world Operation Sindoor had left dozens dead, on both sides of the border."Booth also cited the case of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was released from a $1 million deal with Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders - amid rising tensions between the two nations following the murder of Hindu men in Bangladesh.Mustafizur Episode Highlights...
Wisden laments India's 'Orwellian' control of world cricket - News24
3 hours ago ... The Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has criticised India's political influence in global cricket, describing the situation as “increasingly Orwellian” and ...
Wisden Editor: Cricket's Orwellian Governance Pretends Indian ...
16 hours ago ... In his Editor's Notes in the 2026 edition of the Wisden Cricketer's Almanack, Wisden Almanack editor Lawrence Booth has criticised India's growing political ...
Wisden editor slams 'Orwellian' cricket authorities for being ...
1 hour ago ... Lawrence Booth says 'cricket has become an important piece on BJP's geopolitical chessboard'
