PSL 2025 Setback: ECB turns down PCB request after Indian cricket’s silent push

The growing influence of Indian cricket administrators is once again making headlines, as reports claim that officials from India played an underhanded role in blocking Pakistan’s attempts to host the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. A report by Cricbuzz said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially declined a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the remainder of the PSL season in England — assuming that Indian officials’ diplomatic nudge wasn’t the final straw. 

Sources who are close to the conclusion are obvious Indian cricket officials, particularly BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who considerably influenced the decision for the ECB to turn down Pakistan’s request. The PCB's request to host the remainder of the PSL in England came after a series of logistical and security issues made it nearly impossible to stage the rest of the league in Pakistan. Following discussions, England was decided on as a feasible alternative that would be neutral for both teams, and Pakistani officials thought it would not cause undue harm to their brands. However, Indian officials did not want the Pakistani brand to grow any foundation on English soil, especially with multiple logistical concerns being raised in the UK and high stakes for broadcast and commercial exposure.

Jay Shah’s well-documented connections with cricket boards in the UAE and other international venues are believed to have played a pivotal role in swaying decisions. He is becoming more prominent in the global cricket administration landscape, including influence within the ICC, and connects with officials across national boards. These factors have strengthened India's voice in international cricket issues, which is already very loud, and this event illustrates how soft power and necessary diplomacy are increasingly influencing the geopolitical story of cricket.

India’s Strategic Cricket Diplomacy Continues to Shape Global Tournaments

This isn’t the first time India’s cricket board has influenced the international scheduling or venue dynamics. The BCCI has often relied on its enormous commercial power (and relationships) to either endorse or indirectly stop rivals from a hosting perspective. As India remains the largest market for cricket viewing and sponsorship, such action is mainly based on long-term strategies.

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For Pakistan, this rejection is indeed a significant setback, not only for its signature event but also for its wider ambition for recovery and to rehabilitate its presence in global cricket. As India starts to cement its authority both administratively and diplomatically, boards like the PCB will need to start thinking about international coordination, especially the informal endorsement of BCCI.