India not visiting Pakistan confirmed? Jay Shah approves ICC Champions Trophy budget with extra expenses

In a major development concerning ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the ICC has approved the budget for the tournament next year to be played in Pakistan between February and March. The tournament will be played from 19 February to 9 March 2025.

The ICC has approved a budget of approximately USD 70 million to host the Champions Trophy in Pakistan early next year. Pakistan are still the expected hosts of the tournament despite BCCI unlikely to send the team over across the border.

The decision was made after scrutiny by the ICC's financial and commercial committee, chaired by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. He reviewed the budget prepared and submitted by the PCB and the ICC finance department, sources close to the ICC said to PTI.

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"The approximate budget is around USD 70 million and only USD 4.5 million has been allocated as additional expenses," the source said.

PCB Allocated USD 70 Million For Champions Trophy 2025

There are reports that the additional expenses have been kept aside to meet the needs of an emergency in case India pulls out from the tournament due to their cross-border tension with Pakistan. India pulling out of the tournament might need PCB to shift matches to a few other venues. As per reports India and Pakistan are placed in the same group and the Men in Blue have been allocated their matches at the Gadaffi Stadium, in Lahore.

The source further said that the budget of 4.5 US million dollars is too low to meet the demands in case of an emergency situation of India not visiting Pakistan and playing matches in UAE or Sri Lanka.

Jay Shah Named India As Hosts For Men's Asia Cup 2025

Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary and the President Of the Asian Cricket Council, himself decided to hand over India the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2025 T20 tournament and Bangladesh the hosting rights of the 50-over format of the men's Asia Cup 2027.

The PTI source further said that the tentative format of the 2025 Asia Cup sees India and Pakistan in the same group. This would mean that the two teams will at least play two games including one in group stage and one in the Super 4 stage. They can play a third game in case both teams make the final.

"A third match could happen if they qualify for the final," he said.

The source disclosed that the ACC despite the confusion and late venue changes and extra expenses during the tournament had still managed to reap profits from the 2023 Asia Cup held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, with all the talk regarding Pakistan hosting the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy, a tournament without Team India might not garner much hype and following which might lead to broadcasters pulling out of broadcast deals as well.

Recently a report in Cricket Pakistan said that Pakistan does not have any plan B ready still if India decides to pull out of the tournament. There are no contingency plans in place in case there are talks of a possible venue change to Sri Lanka or UAE. Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stood form on Pakistan being the hosts of the tournament.

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