ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India's absence will be catastrophic, broadcaster warns ICC in letter

The Champions Trophy 2025 is just over two months away but it is still not clear where the tournament will be held. While Pakistan are the designated hosts for the tournament, India's reluctance to travel has left the ICC searching for other options.

Amidst all the chaos and speculations, ICC's host broadcaster Star India has written to the board confirming its stance. Star India has written about the complications that ICC can face if India does not play in the tournament.

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Australia start a new fight with ICC amid CT chaos

Star India writes to ICC amidst the Champions Trophy 2025 chaos

According to a report in TOI, Star India has revealed the numbers if India does not play in the Champions Trophy. It is believed that the ICC decided to sell the Indian market in a separate manner while selling the media rights for a period of four years.

Selling India's rights separately has brought a tremendous amount of revenue to the ICC, however, it ensures that India must be available for all the ICC tournaments (if they qualify). ICC's deal with Star India amounts to a massive 90% of the overall global revenue.

If India do not play in the Champions Trophy, the ICC will have to give 90 percent of the total value of the media rights, $750 million. Similarly, if Pakistan pull out, the ICC members will face a loss of less than 10 percent of the total amount of media rights.

It is clear that the ICC members would not want India to be out of the tournament at any cost. It is the reason why the ICC is so adamant about ensuring India's participation in the tournament.

According to industry sources, the ICC can shift the tournament at any time without any difficulties in order to ensure its best interests. "The ICC is well within its rights to shift the tournament to any country as long as it is in the best interests of the property. The decision is not so complicated as it is being made to look," the report claimed.

Champions Trophy 2025 won't be cancelled: Sources

A source also revealed that the tournament cannot be cancelled at any cost and the hybrid model could be the best way forward. He also claimed that the PCB can do the same to the BCCI in the next year's Asia Cup, however, the ball will be in the court of the ACC and not the ICC.

"There is no question of the tournament getting cancelled. As for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying they will do a quid-pro with India when the Asia Cup arrives, let's be clear that the current topic is an ICC matter."

"The Asia Cup is for the Asian Cricket Council to decide. Neither is the federation the same, nor the broadcaster and it's a completely separate issue for PCB to think about," the source added.

PCB wants a hybrid model for all ICC events in India

With India confirming its stance of not travelling to Pakistan, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is likely to be held in a hybrid model. While the PCB has almost agreed, they want the same for all the upcoming ICC events in India, indicating that Pakistan will not travel to India and play all its matches outside the country.

India are scheduled to host a no. of ICC events in the country in the upcoming cycle. India will host the 2026 T20 World Cup along with Sri Lanka, the 2029 Champions Trophy, and the 2031 ODI World Cup along with Bangladesh.