He Bullied Everyone Former PCB Chief Najam Sethi Reveals the Truth About N Srinivasan:

In the world of cricket, the rivalry between India and Pakistan isn’t just on the pitch it’s in the boardroom. Recently, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi decided to pull back the curtain on his time dealing with the BCCI, and he didn’t hold back.

His main target? Former BCCI President N Srinivasan, a man who Sethi claims ruled global cricket with an iron fist.

The "Big Three" Pressure

Sethi recalls a time when the ICC was moving toward the "Big Three" model (where India, Australia, and England would take the lion's share of revenue). He claims Srinivasan essentially cornered him, asking why Pakistan wanted to be "isolated."

"Mr. Srinivasan came to me and said why do you want to be sidelined? Just sign the deal," Sethi shared. According to him, the message was clear: join us or be left behind. Eventually, Pakistan agreed, but only after being promised a series of bilateral matches to make up for their financial losses.

The "Ultimate Insult"

However, the promised series never happened. Sethi recounts a particularly painful memory from October of that year. He had traveled all the way to meet BCCI officials to finalize the details of the series.

"I went there to sign everything and settle it. But can you imagine? They didn't even meet us at the hotel," Sethi said, describing it as one of the biggest humiliations in his career. The BCCI apparently backed out of the series without a word, leaving the PCB hanging.

Why This Matters Now

Sethi’s comments come at a time when the tension is at an all-time high. With Pakistan currently boycotting its T20 World Cup match against India (to support Bangladesh), these old wounds are being reopened. Sethi believes the BCCI uses its massive wealth to "bully" other boards and keep Pakistan on the sidelines.

While the BCCI maintains that it only follows the Indian government’s directives regarding Pakistan, for men like Najam Sethi, it feels like a deliberate display of dominance. As we head into the 2026 World Cup, the ghost of these old boardroom battles continues to haunt the game.