BCCI labelled certified bully by PCB chief as blistering accusations detonate India vs Pakistan controversy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been the richest in world cricket. Their dynamics with the rest of the cricketing nations have been different. The tussle between them and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made headlines ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Both the latter boards refused to travel to India and play against India.

The PCB and BCB have requested an examination of the BCCI's influence in the modern cricketing landscape. As the tussle keeps going, ex-PCB chief Najam Sethi had his theory on why the PCB and BCB pulled out due to different reasons and also warned BCCI that this is a sign of a changing landscape, which they must take seriously.

Najam Sethi slams BCCI

Speaking to India Today, Sethi highlighted the point of the tense relations between the two boards for many years, “I’m not a spokesman for the PCB, I’m giving you my view. The PCB consulted the government, and they made this decision. There are 10-15 days to go before that match. My sense is that there are negotiations that are taking place, and my hope is that those negotiations will bear fruit,”

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Najam Sethi also explained that India, Australia, and England receive the large majority of the ICC’s revenue. This has been the reason that the BCCI bullied the other boards and also isolated Pakistan. Sethi went on to say that the PCB was unhappy with the nature of the revenue-sharing model and needed to protest to have it distributed more fairly.

'Pakistan used to be isolated'- Najam Sethi

He said, “It’s the attitude of the BCCI, that’s the problem. At every stage, they’ve been bullying people. Pakistan used to be isolated; it was one amongst ten at the time, and then everybody used to side with India. There was no point in standing out. I negotiated the final entry to the Big Three; we were the final ones, and we said no, we don’t want to be part of the Big Three.”

He further added, “Nine members signed on, and Mr Srinivasan came to me and said, ‘Why do you want to be left alone, blah blah blah, you will be isolated,’ and the rest of it. We had decided to stand aside and be okay with it, because it was an inherently inequitable principle."

"They said okay, we will revise it, we will increase the shares of other members, including ours, and they agreed to play a series with us to make up for the previous losses we had incurred."

India vs Pakistan generates double revenue

India vs Pakistan generates double the revenue of any other fixture in any major ICC tournament. If this match does not happen, ICC will have to incur a huge loss.

The apex body will also sanction the PCB, and they might be banned from world cricket, and they can also impose other fines on the Pakistan Cricket Board. The match is scheduled on 15th February at the R Premedasa Stadium, Colombo.

Also Read: Overseas players to boycott PSL amid India vs Pakistan controversy, hints Ravichandran Ashwin