ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Cricket Board issues a financial threat to International Cricket Council

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is likely to face huge financial losses if Pakistan boycotts the tournaments played in India. Recently, Pakistan has threatened to pull out of ICC events to be held in India if the Men in Blue do not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi went to his country's government to discuss the future course of action.

Pakistan's government asked its cricket board not to agree to a hybrid model and instead start boycotting matches against India. This can lead to serious losses for the ICC, who have a no. of tournaments scheduled in India from 2024 to 2031.

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ICC risks financial losses if Pakistan pulls out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and India matches

The absence of the Pakistan cricket team could lead to the loss of ICC's revenue from sponsors and broadcasters. The ICC secured a deal of $3.2 billion for the 2024-2027 cycle from broadcast rights. The board relies quite heavily on India-Pakistan matches, which provide record viewership and audience every time.

In the past few years, the ICC has ensured that India plays Pakistan at least once during their event, keeping them together in the same group on numerous occasions. It has brought them a huge amount of revenue over the years.

The last time India and Pakistan faced each other in an ODI match was in the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad. The viewership broke all records with 173 million viewers on the Indian TC and 225 million viewers watching digitally.

Legal consequences for ICC?

If Pakistan does not participate in these matches, the ICC will face challenges with the broadcasters and sponsors, who expect both high-profile cricket teams to come up against each other endless times.

ICC could face legal consequences from commercial partners and could witness a potential drop in revenue if Pakistan refuses to play. There could also be a decline in the financial distribution of funds to member countries.

“Pakistan’s role is crucial not just for the game but for cricket’s financial ecosystem. Pakistan draws top sponsors and viewers, which translates to revenue for the ICC and all cricketing nations,” a senior official from a multinational sponsor claimed.

No India-Pakistan bilateral series for years

While the other cricketing boards have relied on the series against India for their revenue, Pakistan has sustained its cricket without any bilateral series against India over the years. These two teams last played a bilateral series way back in 2013 when Pakistan traveled to India for an ODI and a T20I series.

On the other hand, India's last travel to Pakistan was in 2008 during the Asia Cup. Pakistan's players also do not play in the IPL, which is the richest cricket league in the world.

Three stadiums in Pakistan have been given a chance to host the Champions Trophy 2025 next year. Those three stadiums are in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. Currently, the stadiums are undergoing some upgradation work which will be over well before the Champions Trophy starts in February.

Lahore will host the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. India was also scheduled to play all its matches in Lahore but given their refusal, the proposed schedule is likely to be changed now.