The New York Times has published a detailed report alleging that India’s growing political and commercial influence has tightened its grip over world cricket, triggering controversy during the T20 World Cup and raising questions over the independence of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

According to the report, the tournament was marred by alleged Indian political interference, with ICC decisions reportedly made under pressure from New Delhi. The newspaper claimed that India had effectively “held global cricket hostage” through its financial and political leverage.

The report said India’s rigid stance led to the cancellation of the high-profile Pakistan-India match, while Pakistan and Bangladesh’s boycotts further damaged the tournament’s credibility.

It added that Pakistan boycotted the match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh and announced on February 15 that it would not play the fixture in Colombo. The government described the move as a “clear stance,” reiterating that sports should remain free from politics.

The New York Times warned that India’s growing monopoly poses a serious threat to the future of international cricket. It noted that the cancellation of the Pakistan-India clash is expected to cause significant financial losses to the ICC, which had projected around $250 million in revenue from the match alone.

The report said sports relations deteriorated further after the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, which intensified military tensions between Pakistan and India. It also pointed to strained Bangladesh-India ties following demands for the extradition of Hasina Wajid.

According to the newspaper, India receives nearly 40 per cent of the ICC’s total profits, strengthening its dominance within the sport’s governing body.

The report highlighted that ICC Chairman Jay Shah is the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, describing the father-son duo as a symbol of India’s expanding political influence in cricket.

It also revealed that media rights holder Geo Star is seeking to renegotiate its $3 billion contract with the ICC after suffering heavy losses linked to the tournament’s instability.