Wisden Condemns India’s ‘Orwellian’ Grip on World Cricket in Annual Almanack
Wisden has pulled no punches. In its 163rd edition, editor Lawrence Booth describes cricket’s governance as “increasingly Orwellian,” placing the BCCI squarely at the centre of his criticism.
“It was obvious long before this latest grandstanding that the BCCI were the sporting adjunct of India’s ruling BJP,” Booth wrote. The ICC now has an Indian chairman in Jay Shah — son of India’s Home Affairs minister — and an Indian CEO in Sanjog Gupta.
Specific examples are damning. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman was released by KKR at the BCCI’s behest — described by Booth as retaliation for political violence — triggering Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup and a Pakistan boycott threat. India’s players made “tasteless gestures about fighter planes” during the 2025 Asia Cup. PM Modi tweeted “Operation Sindoor on the games field.”
The almanack does not mince words. Cricket’s most storied publication is a