 has a new face at the helm as Sanjog Gupta took over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).){kind=link}
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has a new face at the helm as Sanjog Gupta took over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO); however, his appointment hasn’t exactly been welcomed with unanimous applause.
While the decision may mark a fresh chapter for global cricket administration, it’s already raising eyebrows across member boards who fear this might be another step towards an India-dominated ICC.
Who is Sanjog Gupta?
For those unfamiliar with him, Gupta is no stranger to the cricket ecosystem. He’s had an influential career in Indian broadcasting and administration and played a key role in growing cricket viewership in India.
However, it’s his past views on revenue distribution that have brought his new role under intense scrutiny.
Reportedly, Gupta has argued in the past that India, given its massive contribution to global cricket revenue, deserves a larger share of the financial pie.
While this opinion aligns with India’s market power, it hasn’t gone down well with several member boards, who are already uneasy about the ICC’s growing tilt towards Indian influence.
A Pattern Emerging?
Gupta’s appointment adds to what some critics see as a trend: Indian officials filling more senior positions at the ICC.
With Jay Shah as ICC chairman and other Indian executives such as Prabhakaran Thanraj (vice president of commercial and operations) and Gaurav Saxena (general manager of events and corporate communications) already onboard, the leadership team is starting to look a bit one-sided.
Saxena, notably, had earlier worked as BCCI’s general manager of operations before his ICC stint, further fuelling concerns that the line between national and international governance is beginning to blur.
The Selection Process
To be fair, the ICC insists that the appointment followed a thorough and transparent process. The CEO hunt began in March 2025 and reportedly attracted over 2,500 applications from 25 different countries. Out of these, 12 candidates made the shortlist.
The final call came from the nominations committee, comprising Imran Khawaja, Richard Thompson, Shammi Silva and Devajit Saikia. The committee unanimously backed Gupta, and the full ICC Board later ratified the decision.
Why the Pushback?
Despite the process, the optics of Gupta’s selection have raised alarm bells. Member boards worry that with so many key roles occupied by individuals with close ties to India or the BCCI, the ICC may slowly lose its neutrality.
“The issue isn’t Gupta’s capability,” a source familiar with the matter said. “It’s about balance and the spirit of equal representation in global cricket.”
Some even argue that global cricket is inching towards a monopoly, where decisions risk being made in favour of a few, rather than the collective interests of all member nations.
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