Indian Cricket Team To Tour Pakistan After 15 Years, Will Participate In Asia Cup 2023- Reports

The visit of India to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023 will, of course, be subject to official approval at the time, but it is now on the agenda of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Indian team last went to Pakistan in 2006.

A BCCI letter distributed to state associations on Thursday before the October 18 Annual General Meeting (AGM) details India’s multilateral obligations in 2023 as follows:

Major ICC/multi-nation Events In 2023, Pakistan To Host Asia Cup

The Indian team will be participating in the following ICC events in 2023

• ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa
• ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, South Africa
• Asia Cup, Pakistan
• ICC Cricket World Cup, India

Government To Take Final Decision

Pakistan is set to host the 50-over Asia Cup in the second part of 2023, followed by the World Cup in India. And, if this message is any indicator, the BCCI appears to be receptive to visiting Pakistan, which has been a no-go zone since 2008, when India competed in an Asia Cup.

When contacted, BCCI officials were hesitant to take a position, although it is worth noting that Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

“It will be subject to the clearance of the Government of India as always,” said a BCCI official maintaining the oft-repeated position. There is always the possibility of staging the event in the UAE, as was done for this year’s Asia Cup, but the BCCI memo appears to indicate otherwise.

BCCI Confirms An Enhanced Tax Assessment For The 2023 World Cup

Meanwhile, another AGM statement corroborated a Cricbuzz report on the Government of India’s plan to boost the World Cup tax spending.

“The ICC has now received a 20% (excluding surcharges) tax order for its broadcast revenue for the 2023 event from the tax authorities in India.

The BCCI is currently working with the Ministry of Finance, Government of India and have represented against this 20% (excluding surcharges) tax order at the very highest level and are hopeful that a 10% (excluding surcharges) tax order would be forthcoming shortly,” the note points out.

Also Read: IND vs PAK: Asif Ali Limps Out With An Injury, Giving Pakistan Cause For Concern

Greater Tax Outlay To Result In Bigger Loss Of Income For BCCI

The BCCI further claims that the greater tax outlay would result in a bigger loss of income for the board because the expense will be absorbed by the BCCI.

“It is to be noted that any tax cost incurred by the ICC for the 2023 event in India will be adjusted with the BCCI’s share of revenue from the ICC,” the note says, illustrating the point that “The Impact on BCCI’s revenue from the ICC, if a 21.84 % withholding tax order is received by ICC is USD 116.47 million.”

The 2023 World Cup will cost a total of USD 533.29 million.

The prior tax order was for 10.29% on the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup, which India hosted, and the liability, amounting to USD 23.5 million, was adjusted in India’s part of the ICC earnings.

The note attests to this, “The ICC’s broadcast partner was allowed a lower withholding tax of 10.92% for the 2016 event by the relevant department in the Government of India.

This 10.92% amounted to nearly USD 23.5 million. This amount of USD 23.5 million was subsequently deducted from BCCI’s share of ICC revenues. This deduction is being legally contested by the BCCI since then.”

The 2021 World Cup was also held in India, however, the laws did not apply because it was held in the UAE.

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 was scheduled to be held in India but was shifted to UAE & Oman in the middle of this year due to Covid 19 pandemic related reasons.

The BCCI hosted this event with the Emirates Cricket Board and Oman Cricket. Since the event was held outside of India, the same was not subject to any withholding tax by the Indian tax authorities,” the note says.