An Indian journalist, Jyotsna Mohan, has called out the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), warning that cricket in India is no longer being run as a sport but as a political instrument. She says the country’s most powerful cricket body has steadily lost its independence under government influence.
In her assessment, institutions meant to uphold fairness and integrity, including the BCCI, have weakened under political pressure, with cricket becoming the latest casualty.
According to Mohan, although the BCCI is often described as a private sporting body, its recent conduct suggests it no longer operates purely as one. She argues that commercial interests and political alignment increasingly dictate decisions within Indian cricket.
Mohan says that while the BCCI remains the most powerful cricket board in the world due to its financial strength, this power is closely tied to the Indian government. In her view, cricket administration has effectively become an extension of domestic politics, with decisions reflecting political messaging rather than sporting fairness.
She identifies January as a key turning point, when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, the only Bangladeshi player in the IPL. The move followed public outrage in India over reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
Citing media reports, Mohan states that the BCCI instructed the franchise to cancel the player’s Rs. 9.20 crore contract. She notes that right-wing groups used the issue to target team owner Shah Rukh Khan, with a BJP leader publicly calling him a traitor and questioning his right to live in India.
Mohan argues that public outrage has become selective and politically driven, saying cricket was used to polarize opinion ahead of elections in West Bengal, the home state of KKR.
According to her, Bangladesh responded firmly by refusing to travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup, citing safety concerns, and requested that its matches be played in Sri Lanka, a neutral co-host nation. She notes that this decision followed a precedent set by India itself.
During the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, India declined to travel to Pakistan and instead played all its matches in Dubai, while other teams moved between venues. Mohan argues that Bangladesh applied the same logic, but its request was rejected.
She describes the ICC as lacking independence and closely aligned with BCCI leadership. Mohan points out that ICC chairman Jay Shah is the son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, who has previously made hostile remarks about Bangladeshi migrants.
Bangladesh ultimately stayed away from the tournament and was replaced by Scotland, a development Mohan says once again showed how athletes become collateral damage when politics overtakes sport.
She further notes that the issue has now drawn in Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi approved a boycott of the scheduled match against India in Colombo on February 15. Mohan argues that cricket has now opened a new diplomatic front between Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.
Mohan also questions why India and Pakistan continue to be paired repeatedly in major tournaments despite the absence of bilateral series. She points out that India played Pakistan multiple times even during ongoing tensions, suggesting that commercial interests often override political posturing.
She further criticizes scenes from the Asia Cup where Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani players, calling it an example of politics overtaking sportsmanship. Mohan contrasts this with earlier generations of cricketers from both countries, who maintained dignity despite political tensions.
