The BCCI has maintained that it is a private and autonomous body and therefore does not qualify as a “public authority” under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. File
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Is cricket’s overwhelming sway responsible for impeding football in India?

Abhik Chatterjee: Cricket is the primary sport in India. There is a huge appetite for it. However, I would say that football is a second favourite. I feel cricket has heroes, which is why people consume it more. There are so many people who aspire to get into the sport because India is able to perform at the highest level.

Football has many fans who consume the Premier League, La Liga, World Cup, Champions League, etc. But I feel that for it to explode, India needs to do well on the international stage. If we have players going and play outside India, that is when aspirations will go up and chatter around the sport will increase. The ISL obviously has played its part in giving the sport more eyeballs and in making clubs more professional. But there are improvements to be made. We need to take a few quantum jumps before we are able to compete with at least the top leagues in Asia.

Yannick Colaco: I do agree that football is the clear number 2 sport in India. Research shows there are close to 305 million football fans in the country now. When we think about sports as an opportunity, I don’t think we can say cricket is so dominant that there is no space for other sports. I mean, just the fact that there are 305 million football fans is proof of that — that is more than the population of some countries in the world. The opportunity for football to grow in this country is immense. We are just scratching the surface.

The Indian cricket team is among the best in the world right now. But the Indian football team continues to plummet in FIFA rankings. How big a factor is the performance of the respective teams?

Yannick Colaco: The performance of the Indian team is extremely important. I think that essentially just creates better sentiment. Anything that can create positivity around a sport is a good thing. But I don’t think it is the only thing. Even in cricket, if you look back some years, India was not consistently winning global tournaments, but cricket was still an extremely popular sport. Building the fandom that has already been developed around football and recounting the stories of footballers are essentially how we can actually move beyond performance of the Indian team.

Abhik Chatterjee: There are multiple factors. There needs to be a concentrated effort across the board. All the stakeholders, whether it is the clubs, federation, or broadcaster, need to come together. There is a way to convey why football is what it is, and why people love the sport. For all of this to happen, there are foundations to be put in place right at the bottom and then developed gradually all the way up to the top. It needs to be a systemic change, and it needs to also be something that is sustainable in the long term.

When the ISL, which was modelled along the lines of the Indian Premier League in cricket, began in 2014, there was a lot of optimism. People believed that this was a new dawn for Indian football. Do you feel that opportunity has been squandered?

Yannick Colaco: People are attracted towards the concept of a silver bullet. They think one move is suddenly going to change everything in a consumer product. It does not work that way. When the ISL was set up, it was a very positive move. The ISL has close to 150 million fans across the country. I think there is still optimism around the game of football.

Abhik Chatterjee: Nothing is wasted. The ISL has paved the way for people to start watching a professionally marketed domestic football league that from the beginning featured players from around the world. As an administrator, I have seen change. We have had some top foreign coaches come into the league over the last decade. Indian coaches have obviously benefited from working with them. They have learned how to upgrade themselves. Some of them have gone on to become head coaches in their own right. This is just a small example of how the ISL has contributed to the Indian football ecosystem. There are many positives. We have to pause for a moment and be grateful for those. But there are also aspects that we can improve on as we go forward.

When the ISL media rights were sold earlier this month, there were comparisons with the valuation of the IPL media rights. Joy Bhattacharjya said if India is to take itself seriously as a sporting nation, the bizarrely skewed ratio has to come down. What are your thoughts?

Yannick Colaco: In today’s social media world, putting out numbers without context has become a norm. The situation is a lot more complex. The media rights value is definitely not a reflection of the state of a sport in our country. You should be looking at following, viewership, attendance, and much more to judge a sport. The focus of everyone in the football ecosystem should not be about how much cricket makes. Monetisation will happen. But if you focus only on that, then you won’t concentrate on the most important aspect of football, which is essentially how our fan base is growing.

In terms of governance, cricket seems to largely have its house in order. In football, the administration has been riddled with controversies. How detrimental has that been?

Abhik Chatterjee: There are multiple issues that Indian football has gone through in the past year. It would be foolish to deny that. It is out in the open. But there is an opportunity to move in a new direction. The clubs have come together, which is refreshing to see. I speak more with my colleagues than I ever have in the last 14 years. Everybody has taken joint ownership of the product. Everybody is hands-on in taking decisions across the board, whether it comes to governance, broadcast, marketing, or sponsorship. That approach has stemmed from the challenges faced over the past few months.

Cricket has also had issues when it comes to administration, but through India doing well at the international stage and with strong leadership, it has settled into what it is today. The ISL is still in a growing phase, but everybody is committed to moving forward and working together to solve issues.

How optimistic are you of India widening its sporting footprint, and cricket and football thriving together? Or will football always be a distant number 2 sport?

Yannick Colaco: The sporting footprint is already widening in terms of participation. There is no one-year, two-year solution. We need to think of this and plan for the next five or 10 years. You keep building milestones in that space. But I don’t think anyone should look at football suddenly becoming 10 times its size in a year or two years. You have to build this patiently, in the right way.

Abhik Chatterjee: Football has to be looked at in a singular manner, in its own ecosystem, and within its own set of challenges. If you do want to compare, you should compare India to neighbouring countries in the Asian Football Confederation that we have to catch up with or match. That is a more valid comparison. You look at the likes of Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong. Those are more interesting discussions that need to happen.

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Just days after a controversy was triggered due to the absence of India’s flat from Karachi’s National Stadium ahead of the start of the ICC Champions Trophy, amends seem to have been made. In the latest visuals that have been shared on social media from the venue, India’s flag has been placed alongside other participating nations for the Champions Trophy. Many theories were contemplated when the National Stadium didn’t feature India’s flag a few days before the start of the event. But, all seems to be well now.

Several users on social media shared the visuals of the flags of all 8 nations which are participating in the Champions Trophy.

India’s flag raised at the National Stadium in Karachi. What a moment

We have big hearts, we don’t do cheap acts. All 7 Indian journalists granted Pakistan visas too #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/zWfIMCaVex

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 18, 2025

As social media went berserk, with fans criticising Pakistan’s refusal to raise the Indian flag at its stadiums, the PCB brushed aside the controversy, saying the flags of the countries who are playing in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have only been raised at the stadiums.

“As you know, India is not coming to Pakistan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues,” said a PCB source was quoted as saying by IANS.

When asked why the Indian, Bangladesh, and other participating countries’ flags were not there at the Karachi and Lahore stadiums, the source said, “The Indian team is going to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh team has not yet arrived in Pakistan and will be playing its first match against India in Dubai. Therefore, their flags have not been hoisted and the other nations, who have arrived here and will be playing in Pakistan… their flags are there at the stadium.”

No Indian flag in #Karachi:

only the Indian team faced security issues in #Pakistan & refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the PCB removed the #India flag from the Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest playing nations.#ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/QaZMqglAu1

— shahinur (@shahinu_r) February 17, 2025

The BCCI vice-chairman also reacted to the controversy, saying the Pakistan board needs to first confirm if Indian flag was initially there or not. If it wasn’t, it should’ve been put.

“First, it should be confirmed that whether the Indian flag was there or not. If it wasn’t there, then it should have been put. All the participant nations’ flags should have been there,” Rajeev Shukla told Livemint on the sidelines of the Restaurant Cricket League in Delhi on Tuesday.

In what comes as a boost for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and other stars in the Indian cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly allowed the team members to have their families accompany them during the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. The development comes as a big relief to the players as the company of family members was totally denied after the board issued a 10-point diktat, changing certain rules after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy debacle.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, though BCCI has allowed wives and family members of the players to accompany them in Dubai, a firm condition has been put in place. The players will be allowed to have their family members accompany them only for one match. The players can discuss among themselves and put in a request to the BCCI for the same. The board will then make the arrangements.

Earlier, in its diktat, the Board approved only a two-week window for families to stay with the players during overseas tours that exceed 45 days, besides imposing restrictions on personal staff, and commercial shoots.

For shorter durations like the Champions Trophy, the company of family members weren’t originally allowed. But, considering the nature of event, the board allowed each player to have family members’ company for one game. It has not yet been revealed for which game the players have decided to get the board’s approval.

While issuing the new policy for family members, the BCCI said in a statement that it intends to “ensure professional standards and operational efficiency during tours and series”, the policy, which is in possession of PTI, said.

“Any exceptions or deviations must be pre-approved by the Chairman of the Selection Committee and Head Coach. Non-compliance may lead to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the BCCI,” the Board has warned.

“Additionally, the BCCI reserves the right to take disciplinary action against a player which may include sanction against the concerned player from participating in all BCCI conducted tournaments including the Indian Premier League deduction from retainer amount/match fees under BCCI Player contract,” it added.

India are scheduled to take on Bangladesh in their opening match on February 20. Subsequently, the team will square off against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 02.

A social media controversy was triggered after a video of Karachi’s National Stadium surfaced, showing flags of participating nations playing in the upcoming ICC Champion’s Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19. The video shows that the Indian flag was purportedly not hoisted at the stadium, stirring up controversy and heated debate, criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for venting out its anger against India for refusing to play Champions Trophy matches in the country. While social media is buzzing with fans criticising Pakistan’s refusal to raise the Indian flag at its stadiums, the PCB has downplayed the controversy, saying the flags of the countries who are playing in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have only been raised at the stadiums.

“As you know, India is not coming to Pakistan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues,” said a PCB source to IANS.

When asked why the Indian, Bangladesh and other participating countries’ flags were not there at the Karachi and Lahore stadiums, the source said, “The Indian team is going to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh team has not yet arrived in Pakistan and will be playing its first match against India in Dubai. Therefore, their flags have not been hoisted and the other nations, who have arrived here and will be playing in Pakistan… their flags are there at the stadium.”

No Indian flag in Karachi: As only the Indian team faced security issues in Pakistan and refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the PCB removed the Indian flag from the Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest playing nations. pic.twitter.com/rjM9LcWQXs

— Arsalan (@Arslan1245) February 16, 2025

The source added that PCB does not need to give out an official statement on the matter as it is related to a social media video with an ill-intended agenda.

“I don’t think PCB needs to even give an official statement on this. It’s clear that the controversy is made without facts and aims to damage host Pakistan’s image with fake news,” the source said.

“Different stadiums in Pakistan are going to host different teams during the Champions Trophy matches. And they’re hoisting their flags to welcome them”, it added.

It is pertinent to note that the BCCI refused to play in Pakistan due to security concerns and political tensions between the two countries, forcing the ICC to implement a hybrid model, in which India will be playing all of its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.

The source also stated that cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the Champions Trophy matches will be taking place, have got banners up on the main streets and highways, showing captains of all participating nations, including India, insisting that the PCB does not have any intention to let its political rivalry impact a major ICC event in the country.

Champion Trophy is returning after a hiatus of eight years. Pakistan are the defending champion and the country is looking ahead to the event’s success, as they are hosting the ICC event for the first time since they co-hosted the 1996 World Cup.

One of the few Indian batters who have consistently delivered for the country on overseas assignments, Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t just been another victim to the talent pool the country has. Once the most reliable No. 4 batter in Test cricket, Rahane’s stocks have fallen so hard over the last 2 years that he is no longer in the national team’s scheme of things in any of the three formats. Though not the most outspoken cricketers India have produced, Rahane did expose a flaw in the current selection committee, saying no communication took place from the bosses over his exit from the Test team after the 2023 World Test Championship final.

“When I was dropped a few years ago, I made runs and was picked for the World Test Championship final and then was dropped again. But what is in my control? To play. I did well in domestic cricket and in the IPL and was called again. Whenever an experienced player makes a comeback, one knows that he will get 2-3 series. I knew that South Africa was a challenging series and I was expecting a call, but I wasn’t picked. I felt bad because I have been serving for so long,” Rahane said in an intervie with Indian Express.

Rahane revealed that he was advised by many to speak to the management and the selectors about his situation but he couldn’t do that as the ‘other person’ wasn’t ready to talk. The veteran batter expected himself to be picked for India’s next assignment, after the World Test Championship final in 2023, but was shown he door, without any explanation.

“I’m not the person who will go and ask why I’m being dropped. There was no communication. Many said ‘go and talk’ but one can only talk when the other person is ready to talk. If he is not ready, there is no point fighting. I wanted to talk one on one. I never messaged. I felt odd when I was dropped after the WTC final because I had worked hard for it. I thought I would be there for the next series. There is no point cribbing. I can only do what is in my hands. There is a belief that I will make a comeback,” said the 36-year-old.

Players’ PR teams also play a big role in creating fan pressure over selection or non-selection. Rahane, however, revealed that he doesn’t have a PR team to push his case.

“I was always shy, now I have opened up. My focus has been to play cricket and go home. Nobody told me that going ahead, certain things will be needed. Today also, sometimes I feel ki bas cricket khelo, ghar jao. Now I am told I need to speak up, talk about my hard work. People say you need to be in the news … I don’t have a PR team, my only PR is my cricket. I have now realised that staying in the news is important. Otherwise, people think that I’m out of the circle,” said Rahane.

Rahane wasn’t in the best of form for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign but found his Midas touch again, as he scored a ton in the quarterfinal against Haryana at Eden Gardens. In the process, the veteran batter also hit a hundred in his 200th first-class match.

Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence will certainly hurt India big time, but quality of batting and spin bowling will make Rohit Sharma‘s team one of the title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan. India will play Bangladesh on February 20 followed by Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. Here’s a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis of India’s opposition in group stages 

BANGLADESH 

Strength: This is the format where Bangladesh are the strongest. They have been Asia Cup finalists, 2015 World Cup quarter-finalists. With seasoned players like Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim still around, the ‘Tigers’ can’t be taken lightly.

The biggest strength is the number of multi-utility cricketers in their ranks like Soumya Sarkar, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraj to name a few.

Weakness: Consistency has always been Bangladesh’s bane against better oppositions. Someone like Litton Das couldn’t make it to the Champions Trophy squad due to non-performance. With his ability to take the game back to the opposition, Litton would have been an asset in Powerplays but he misses out.

Shakib Al Hasan‘s prowess has been on the wane, but as they say, there is no substitute for experience. But after being suspended from bowling due to a suspect action, he couldn’t have found a place just on his batting, which has deteriorated a bit.

Opportunity: Against India in Dubai, if the tracks are a bit on the slower side, then Bangladesh’s spinners Mehidy and leg-break bowler Rishad Hossain will have a role to play. Not to forget Mustafizur Rahman, who has enough variations up his sleeve to trouble the batters.

Threat: Bangladesh have lost five of their last six ODIs against Afghanistan and the West Indies. They are also coming into the Champions Trophy after playing the BPL, which at best can be called sub-standard among all the T20 Leagues across the globe.

Bangladesh’s top-order including their talented skipper Nazmul Shanto haven’t exactly set the international stage on fire. They don’t have too many x-factor players who can turn the game from a difficult position.

PAKISTAN 

Strength: There has been criticism about team selection, but they do have players, who can be destructive on their day. Fakhar Zaman had bled India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. He, perhaps, could be more dangerous than their most celebrated batter Babar Azam.

Skipper Mohammed Rizwan and designated finisher Salman Ali Agha are in fantastic form that augurs well for them.

Weakness: Saim Ayub‘s untimely injury has pegged Pakistan back but there would be concerns about Babar’s form as well. Even in the tri-series involving New Zealand and South Africa, the returns (10, 23 and 29) have been underwhelming. Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah and Tayyab Tahir will have to pull their socks up on big days.

Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf are the weak links in this squad.

The effectiveness of their pacers can be compromised on the flat decks at home.

Opportunities: Playing at home is certainly an advantage for Pakistan. They have a potent pace attack but there needs to be something in tracks at Karachi and Rawalpindi for the troika of Shaheen Shah Afrid, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf to come good.

Agha’s form in the middle-order is a big plus and also he can bowl tight off-breaks in the middle overs. Agha will be Pakistan’s ‘X Factor’ going into the tournament.

Threat: Having just one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed is a risky ploy. The only other player, who can slow down things is Salman but he at the best is a part-timer or a batter, who can bowl.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf’s batting average or bowling economy rate doesn’t inspire confidence. In the tri-series, both Shaheen and Naseem have been plundered for runs.

NEW ZEALAND 

Strength: The Kiwis are one of the most compact sides with a lot of players who have enough experience of playing white ball cricket in the sub-continent. In Devon Conway and Tom Latham, they have two dependable openers and in 50-over format, Kane Williamson can control the proceedings. There is fire-power in the middle-order as Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips can take the game away in a jiffy.

Weakness: After a long time, New Zealand are going into an ICC event where they won’t have the peerless duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Even Lockie Ferguson is highly unlikely and the fast bowling department looks a bit short on experience. The skill-sets to bowl on sub-continental and Dubai pitches could be different from SENA countries.

Opportunities: New Zealand is always a candidate to be in the top four and it doesn’t change even this time round. In Mitchell Santner, they have a steady skipper, who is doing well and with Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell for company, they can control the game in middle overs which will possibly decide the outcome of this tourney.

Threat: It will be interesting to find out how New Zealand play out the opposition spinners during the middle overs. In Test matches in India, Will Young showed the perfect blend of defensive and attacking technique on tracks that aided spinners. The conditions will be way flatter in Pakistan and the UAE, but playing against Indian spin troika, or Bangladesh’s Rishad and Pakistan’s Abrar would require special skills in ODIs.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has backed the Indian team to be a strong contender to lift the ICC Champions Trophy despite the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Saikia credited the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for picking the best combination for the eight-team marquee competition. Young pacer Harshit Rana has been named Bumrah’s replacement in the squad while senior speedster Mohammad Shami will lead the pace attack along with Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya.

“We have picked the best team for the Champions Trophy. And I believe we will win the trophy. India have such a big bench strength, and I don’t think it (Jasprit Bumrah’s absence) will have any major issue with the team combination,” Saikia told IANS on Friday.

Talking about the form of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the BCCI secretary expressed confidence in the duo’s ability to shine in the tournament. India captain Rohit slammed a century in the second ODI against England while Kohli ended his dry run with a half-century in the final ODI as the host whitewashed the series 3-0. Earlier, Suryakumar-led India sealed the five-match T20I series 4-1.

“Everything is very positive in the team (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in form); see the England series; the results are in front of you. The conditions will be more or less the same in Dubai, like the Indian conditions. India came out in such a good manner (against England) with a series whitewash in ODIs and a 4-1 win in T20Is. The morale and spirit of the team is at the highest level,” Saikia added.

India will start their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2.

India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Non Travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required.

An unbelievable piece of information has surfaced from India’s tour of Australia as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unrolled the new set of rules, which also put a cap on the weight of luggage the players can carry for overseas assignments. A report has claimed that the board had to put the rule in place to prevent such issues from cropping up again. The BCCI, as per the new rule, has clarified that it would only bear the cost for luggage, up to 150 kg.

A report in Dainik Jagran made the explosive revelations, highlighting how certain players have been misusing the board’s lenience. A player, reportedly, had the board manage and pay for more than 27 bags during the tour Down Under. The bags didn’t just belong to the player but also to his family members and personal staff. The weight of the bags went above 250kg, for which the board had to pay, as per the report.

The bags consisted of a total of 17 bats, as well as other items belonging to the members of the player’s family and personal staff. As part of the BCCI policy, the luggage belonging to a player’s family and personal staff is supposed to be carried separately. But, the player got the BCCI to manage all that as part of his luggage.

The report further claims that during the entire course of the tour, the family members of the player under the spotlight were with him. The BCCI, in the process, had to bear the cost of getting the player’s and his family members’ stuff from India to Australia and vice-versa, as well as from one city to another during the series Down Under. While the exact money spent by the board during this process isn’t known, the figure is expected to be in lakhs.

This system had a bad influence on other members of the team, prompting them to follow a similar approach too. Hence, the BCCI had to act and put certain rules in place.

Since the Australia tour, a lot has changed in Indian cricket. The players are now required to travel through the team bus for matches. No player is being given permission to make personal arrangements when it comes to team travel. 

As the team prepares to fly to Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy, the BCCI has also issued a strict diktat, making the family members of the players ineligible to accompany them on the tour. A senior player, as per a PTI report, had even sought understanding on the matter as he wanted to fly his wife to Dubai for the series.

The board is said to have informed the player that the rules remain the same for everyone.