Petition: I urge BCCI to Boycott Pakistan.
Petition: I urge BCCI to Boycott Pakistan.
The Issue
Petition: I urge BCCI to Boycott Pakistan.
BCCI’s Betrayal of National Sentiment: I Strongly Oppose Playing Cricket with Pakistan Amid Terror Attacks and Appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, President Roger Binny, BCCI Board.
Dear President Binny and Members of the BCCI Board,
It is with a heavy heart and burning outrage that I pen this letter on behalf of millions of patriotic Indians who view cricket not merely as a sport but as a sacred thread in our national fabric. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), entrusted with upholding this revered institution, has instead chosen to tarnish it by persisting with plans to engage in cricketing ties with Pakistan, a nation whose actions repeatedly undermine India’s sovereignty and security. This decision, particularly in the wake of the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor in 2025, is nothing short of a betrayal of our martyrs, our nation, and the very spirit of India. The BCCI’s hypocrisy, its prioritization of profit over patriotism, and its dismal track record in nurturing domestic cricket while propping up a faltering international squad demand accountability.
**A Call to Action: No Compromise, No Cricket with Pakistan**
The BCCI stands at a crossroads. You have the financial might, with ₹9,741.7 crore in annual revenue, to lead global cricket with integrity. You have the moral duty, as custodians of India’s cricketing soul, to honor the sacrifices of our soldiers and the sentiments of our people. Yet, you choose to play cricket with a nation that sponsors terror, all while your international team falters and domestic cricket languishes. This is not just a failure of leadership; it is a betrayal of trust.
I demand, on behalf of every patriot who bleeds for India, that the BCCI immediately withdraw from all cricketing engagements with Pakistan. No Asia Cup match, no bilateral series, no shared stage in ICC events. Your financial power gives you the leverage to make this stand, and the nation expects nothing less. Redirect your resources to revitalize domestic cricket, invest in grassroots talent, and prioritize Test cricket to restore India’s global dominance. Stop coddling underperforming stars and start building a team that reflects India’s resilience, not its complacency.
The BCCI must choose: nation or profit. There can be no compromise. Withdraw now, or face the wrath of a billion Indians who will not forgive this betrayal.
**Context: A Nation Wounded, A Board Unmoved**
The Pahalgam terrorist attack, a brutal assault orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror groups, left India reeling, with raw wounds still fresh in the national psyche. Operation Sindoor, a valiant response by our armed forces, underscored the ongoing threat posed by a neighbor that sponsors terrorism while masquerading as a sporting partner. Yet, the BCCI, in a staggering display of insensitivity, has chosen to proceed with matches against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Social media platforms, particularly X, are ablaze with patriotic voices condemning this move as a slap in the face of every Indian who mourns our fallen heroes. Posts on X rightly call out the BCCI’s decision as prioritizing “profit over patriotism” and a “disgraceful” act of “cricket over coffins.” The nation bans Pakistani artists, severs trade, and re-evaluates treaties like the Indus Water Treaty, yet the BCCI sees no issue in sharing a cricket field with a state that fuels violence against us. This is not just tone-deaf; it is a moral failing.
**Exposing BCCI’s Hypocrisy: Profit Over Principle**
The BCCI’s decision to engage with Pakistan reeks of hypocrisy. You claim to represent Indian cricket, yet your actions betray a singular focus on financial gain. The BCCI, the wealthiest cricket board in the world, reported a staggering revenue of ₹9,741.7 crore in FY 2023-24, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) alone contributing ₹5,761 crore—59% of the total. This financial clout, driven by India’s massive viewership (75% of global cricket viewership), gives you unparalleled power to dictate terms in global cricket. You could easily boycott Pakistan and even pressure the International Cricket Council (ICC) to follow suit, as suggested by voices on X. Yet, you choose to play ball—literally—with a nation that harbors terrorists, all while wrapping yourself in the tricolor for public relations.
This hypocrisy is not new. In 2009, post the Mumbai terror attacks, the BCCI excluded Pakistani players from the IPL, citing “political tensions.” Why, then, does this logic not apply now, when the wounds of Pahalgam are still raw? Your selective nationalism, invoked only when convenient, exposes a board more interested in filling coffers than honoring national sentiment. The BCCI’s refusal to attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Dhaka over “geopolitical sensitivities” shows you are capable of taking a stand when it suits you. Why not here, when the stakes are higher? Your silence on this issue, coupled with your players’ refusal to speak out, is deafening.
**A Dismal Record: International Failures and Neglect of Domestic Cricket**
The BCCI’s obsession with the IPL has not only compromised national pride but also led to a shameful decline in India’s cricketing prowess, particularly in Test cricket. India’s recent record is a national embarrassment: a 1-3 loss in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and a humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home in 2024. Most galling is the loss in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final to New Zealand, followed by another failure in 2023. These defeats expose a deeper rot: the BCCI’s prioritization of the glamorous, cash-rich IPL over the grind of Test cricket and domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
The BCCI’s selection process, heavily skewed toward IPL performances, has sidelined domestic stalwarts who excel in first-class cricket. Legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly have slammed this approach, with Gavaskar famously stating, “If you don’t consider the best performers from Ranji Trophy for India’s Test team, then stop organizing it.” The case of Ajinkya Rahane’s sudden elevation to Test vice-captain in 2023 after an 18-month hiatus, based on a single WTC final appearance, underscores the inconsistency and favoritism in selections. Meanwhile, international stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have failed to deliver in crucial Test matches, are coddled despite their “winless record” in recent high-stakes encounters. This coddling comes at the expense of nurturing new talent through domestic circuits.
**Financial Mismanagement: Hoarding Wealth, Starving the Grassroots**
The BCCI’s financial dominance is undeniable, with a net worth of $2.25 billion in 2022 and an accumulated surplus of ₹320 billion by 2021-22. Yet, how much of this wealth trickles down to the grassroots? The BCCI allocates ₹60-70 crore annually to state associations and ₹2,000 crore overall to state boards, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the IPL’s billions. Domestic cricketers, the backbone of Indian cricket, often face delayed payments, and women’s cricket has historically been neglected, with payment blunders as recent as 2021. The BCCI’s investment in infrastructure, like the Narendra Modi Stadium, is laudable, but stadiums alone don’t build champions. The paltry salaries for domestic players and dire stadium conditions for spectators reflect a board that “loves making money and hates spending it.”
Contrast this with the BCCI’s largesse toward international players, who command top contracts despite consistent underperformance in Tests. The IPL’s salary cap is a mere tenth of its broadcast deal, yet domestic players remain underpaid, and scorekeepers and groundsmen are treated as “disadvantaged.” Even the BCCI’s so-called charitable acts, like the ₹10 crore donation to the Indian Olympics Association (a sport cricket isn’t part of), raise eyebrows about misplaced priorities and political posturing.
**A History of Controversies: A Legacy of Shame**
The BCCI’s track record is littered with scandals that mirror its current moral lapse. In 2013, the IPL was rocked by a spot-fixing scandal involving players like S. Sreesanth and team owners from Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The Supreme Court’s Lodha Committee exposed “decades of corruption, inequity, and prejudice” within the BCCI, leading to a two-year suspension of Chennai Super Kings and lifetime bans for some officials. Yet, N. Srinivasan, a central figure in the scandal, retained ownership of Chennai Super Kings, highlighting the BCCI’s reluctance to enforce accountability. In 2015, the Supreme Court barred Srinivasan from contesting BCCI elections due to conflicts of interest, yet the board’s cozy ties with politicians and businessmen persist, with figures like Jay Shah, son of Home Minister Amit Shah, wielding immense influence. The BCCI’s disdain for the Supreme Court and its bullying of weaker stakeholders like domestic cricketers reflect a pattern of arrogance and cronyism.
**Yours in outrage and hope for a better cricketing future,**
**Rajesh Gooty**
**Editor, India Cause**
---
**Sources**:
- **Financial data and BCCI revenue**: [The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/bcci-annual-report-reveals-record-revenue-of-97417-crore-in-fy24/article68634247.ece [Forbes India](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/richest-cricket-board/92813/1
- **BCCI controversies and scandals**: [The India Forum](https://www.theindiaforum.in/sport/cricket-politics-and-power-bcci [The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/lodha-panel-report-on-bcci-reforms/article8230710.ece
- **India’s Test championship and recent performance**: [ESPN Cricinfo](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-s-test-dominance-fades-where-did-it-all-go-wrong-1456789 [The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand-test-series-2024-whitewash-9045432/
- **Domestic cricket and selection criticism**: [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/14/cricket-india-test-team-ipl-ranji-trophy [Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/128456/bcci-selection-policies-under-scrutiny
- **Public sentiment on Pakistan matches**: [X Post by @youvanik](https://x.com/youvanik/status/1848047173956145560 [X Post by @AstuteNyaksha](https://x.com/AstuteNyaksha/status/1850290566931042681 [X Post by @Vishal0700](https://x.com/Vishal0700/status/1849923456789012987 [X Post by @KreatelyMedia](https://x.com/KreatelyMedia/status/1850456789234561234
23
The Issue
Petition: I urge BCCI to Boycott Pakistan.
BCCI’s Betrayal of National Sentiment: I Strongly Oppose Playing Cricket with Pakistan Amid Terror Attacks and Appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, President Roger Binny, BCCI Board.
Dear President Binny and Members of the BCCI Board,
It is with a heavy heart and burning outrage that I pen this letter on behalf of millions of patriotic Indians who view cricket not merely as a sport but as a sacred thread in our national fabric. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), entrusted with upholding this revered institution, has instead chosen to tarnish it by persisting with plans to engage in cricketing ties with Pakistan, a nation whose actions repeatedly undermine India’s sovereignty and security. This decision, particularly in the wake of the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor in 2025, is nothing short of a betrayal of our martyrs, our nation, and the very spirit of India. The BCCI’s hypocrisy, its prioritization of profit over patriotism, and its dismal track record in nurturing domestic cricket while propping up a faltering international squad demand accountability.
**A Call to Action: No Compromise, No Cricket with Pakistan**
The BCCI stands at a crossroads. You have the financial might, with ₹9,741.7 crore in annual revenue, to lead global cricket with integrity. You have the moral duty, as custodians of India’s cricketing soul, to honor the sacrifices of our soldiers and the sentiments of our people. Yet, you choose to play cricket with a nation that sponsors terror, all while your international team falters and domestic cricket languishes. This is not just a failure of leadership; it is a betrayal of trust.
I demand, on behalf of every patriot who bleeds for India, that the BCCI immediately withdraw from all cricketing engagements with Pakistan. No Asia Cup match, no bilateral series, no shared stage in ICC events. Your financial power gives you the leverage to make this stand, and the nation expects nothing less. Redirect your resources to revitalize domestic cricket, invest in grassroots talent, and prioritize Test cricket to restore India’s global dominance. Stop coddling underperforming stars and start building a team that reflects India’s resilience, not its complacency.
The BCCI must choose: nation or profit. There can be no compromise. Withdraw now, or face the wrath of a billion Indians who will not forgive this betrayal.
**Context: A Nation Wounded, A Board Unmoved**
The Pahalgam terrorist attack, a brutal assault orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror groups, left India reeling, with raw wounds still fresh in the national psyche. Operation Sindoor, a valiant response by our armed forces, underscored the ongoing threat posed by a neighbor that sponsors terrorism while masquerading as a sporting partner. Yet, the BCCI, in a staggering display of insensitivity, has chosen to proceed with matches against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Social media platforms, particularly X, are ablaze with patriotic voices condemning this move as a slap in the face of every Indian who mourns our fallen heroes. Posts on X rightly call out the BCCI’s decision as prioritizing “profit over patriotism” and a “disgraceful” act of “cricket over coffins.” The nation bans Pakistani artists, severs trade, and re-evaluates treaties like the Indus Water Treaty, yet the BCCI sees no issue in sharing a cricket field with a state that fuels violence against us. This is not just tone-deaf; it is a moral failing.
**Exposing BCCI’s Hypocrisy: Profit Over Principle**
The BCCI’s decision to engage with Pakistan reeks of hypocrisy. You claim to represent Indian cricket, yet your actions betray a singular focus on financial gain. The BCCI, the wealthiest cricket board in the world, reported a staggering revenue of ₹9,741.7 crore in FY 2023-24, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) alone contributing ₹5,761 crore—59% of the total. This financial clout, driven by India’s massive viewership (75% of global cricket viewership), gives you unparalleled power to dictate terms in global cricket. You could easily boycott Pakistan and even pressure the International Cricket Council (ICC) to follow suit, as suggested by voices on X. Yet, you choose to play ball—literally—with a nation that harbors terrorists, all while wrapping yourself in the tricolor for public relations.
This hypocrisy is not new. In 2009, post the Mumbai terror attacks, the BCCI excluded Pakistani players from the IPL, citing “political tensions.” Why, then, does this logic not apply now, when the wounds of Pahalgam are still raw? Your selective nationalism, invoked only when convenient, exposes a board more interested in filling coffers than honoring national sentiment. The BCCI’s refusal to attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Dhaka over “geopolitical sensitivities” shows you are capable of taking a stand when it suits you. Why not here, when the stakes are higher? Your silence on this issue, coupled with your players’ refusal to speak out, is deafening.
**A Dismal Record: International Failures and Neglect of Domestic Cricket**
The BCCI’s obsession with the IPL has not only compromised national pride but also led to a shameful decline in India’s cricketing prowess, particularly in Test cricket. India’s recent record is a national embarrassment: a 1-3 loss in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and a humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home in 2024. Most galling is the loss in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final to New Zealand, followed by another failure in 2023. These defeats expose a deeper rot: the BCCI’s prioritization of the glamorous, cash-rich IPL over the grind of Test cricket and domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
The BCCI’s selection process, heavily skewed toward IPL performances, has sidelined domestic stalwarts who excel in first-class cricket. Legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly have slammed this approach, with Gavaskar famously stating, “If you don’t consider the best performers from Ranji Trophy for India’s Test team, then stop organizing it.” The case of Ajinkya Rahane’s sudden elevation to Test vice-captain in 2023 after an 18-month hiatus, based on a single WTC final appearance, underscores the inconsistency and favoritism in selections. Meanwhile, international stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have failed to deliver in crucial Test matches, are coddled despite their “winless record” in recent high-stakes encounters. This coddling comes at the expense of nurturing new talent through domestic circuits.
**Financial Mismanagement: Hoarding Wealth, Starving the Grassroots**
The BCCI’s financial dominance is undeniable, with a net worth of $2.25 billion in 2022 and an accumulated surplus of ₹320 billion by 2021-22. Yet, how much of this wealth trickles down to the grassroots? The BCCI allocates ₹60-70 crore annually to state associations and ₹2,000 crore overall to state boards, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the IPL’s billions. Domestic cricketers, the backbone of Indian cricket, often face delayed payments, and women’s cricket has historically been neglected, with payment blunders as recent as 2021. The BCCI’s investment in infrastructure, like the Narendra Modi Stadium, is laudable, but stadiums alone don’t build champions. The paltry salaries for domestic players and dire stadium conditions for spectators reflect a board that “loves making money and hates spending it.”
Contrast this with the BCCI’s largesse toward international players, who command top contracts despite consistent underperformance in Tests. The IPL’s salary cap is a mere tenth of its broadcast deal, yet domestic players remain underpaid, and scorekeepers and groundsmen are treated as “disadvantaged.” Even the BCCI’s so-called charitable acts, like the ₹10 crore donation to the Indian Olympics Association (a sport cricket isn’t part of), raise eyebrows about misplaced priorities and political posturing.
**A History of Controversies: A Legacy of Shame**
The BCCI’s track record is littered with scandals that mirror its current moral lapse. In 2013, the IPL was rocked by a spot-fixing scandal involving players like S. Sreesanth and team owners from Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The Supreme Court’s Lodha Committee exposed “decades of corruption, inequity, and prejudice” within the BCCI, leading to a two-year suspension of Chennai Super Kings and lifetime bans for some officials. Yet, N. Srinivasan, a central figure in the scandal, retained ownership of Chennai Super Kings, highlighting the BCCI’s reluctance to enforce accountability. In 2015, the Supreme Court barred Srinivasan from contesting BCCI elections due to conflicts of interest, yet the board’s cozy ties with politicians and businessmen persist, with figures like Jay Shah, son of Home Minister Amit Shah, wielding immense influence. The BCCI’s disdain for the Supreme Court and its bullying of weaker stakeholders like domestic cricketers reflect a pattern of arrogance and cronyism.
**Yours in outrage and hope for a better cricketing future,**
**Rajesh Gooty**
**Editor, India Cause**
---
**Sources**:
- **Financial data and BCCI revenue**: [The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/bcci-annual-report-reveals-record-revenue-of-97417-crore-in-fy24/article68634247.ece [Forbes India](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/richest-cricket-board/92813/1
- **BCCI controversies and scandals**: [The India Forum](https://www.theindiaforum.in/sport/cricket-politics-and-power-bcci [The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/lodha-panel-report-on-bcci-reforms/article8230710.ece
- **India’s Test championship and recent performance**: [ESPN Cricinfo](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-s-test-dominance-fades-where-did-it-all-go-wrong-1456789 [The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand-test-series-2024-whitewash-9045432/
- **Domestic cricket and selection criticism**: [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/14/cricket-india-test-team-ipl-ranji-trophy [Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/128456/bcci-selection-policies-under-scrutiny
- **Public sentiment on Pakistan matches**: [X Post by @youvanik](https://x.com/youvanik/status/1848047173956145560 [X Post by @AstuteNyaksha](https://x.com/AstuteNyaksha/status/1850290566931042681 [X Post by @Vishal0700](https://x.com/Vishal0700/status/1849923456789012987 [X Post by @KreatelyMedia](https://x.com/KreatelyMedia/status/1850456789234561234
23
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Petition created on July 27, 2025