Do you know Pakistan’s Champions Trophy stance could cost ICC millions?
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently announced that it will boycott ICC events hosted in India if if the BCCI continues to refuse to send its team to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Bur this decision could cost the the governing body millions of dollars in lost revenue in the future.
Also read: PCB allocates 12.8 billion rupees for stadium renovations
Pakistan’s government is planning restrictions on participation against India, stating that sports and politics must remain separate for international competition to thrive.
How Pakistan’s Champions Trophy stance could cost ICC millions?
A complete boycott from Pakistan could impact numerous ICC tournaments slated for India from 2024 to 2031, disrupting the marquee India-Pakistan matches that are pivotal for ICC’s viewership and revenue.
Pakistan’s absence in these tournaments could lead to steep declines in sponsorships and broadcast revenue, endangering the ICC’s financial projections.
The ICC recently secured $3.2 billion in broadcast rights for the 2024-2027 cycle and expected an additional $1 billion from other streams, heavily reliant on the high-stakes India-Pakistan fixtures that have become the centerpiece of ICC events.
Also read: ICC introduces new rule ‘stop clock’, what is it?
The importance of these fixtures was underscored by the record-breaking 173 million Indian TV viewers and 225 million digital viewers during the 2023 World Cup.
T20 World Cup 2021 clash between India and Pakistan generated 15.9 billion
The 2021 T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan generated 15.9 billion minutes of engagement, highlighting Pakistan’s important role in bolstering viewership and revenue.
Pakistan’s absence from ICC events in India could also prompt contractual disputes with commercial partners, potentially leading to revenue shortfalls and affecting the ICC’s financial distribution model for its member nations.
As Pakistan decides to boycott ICC events hosted in India, the global cricket community watches closely, aware of the potential shifts this decision could bring to the sport’s financial landscape.
