The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned a substantial budget of approximately $70 million for Pakistan to host the Champions Trophy in February-March 2025.
This decision was confirmed by various sources, including Indian media outlets, which noted that the ICC’s financial and commercial committee, led by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, approved the funding.
The budget proposal was jointly submitted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ICC Finance Department. According to reports from Times of India, the allocated budget is around $70 million, with an additional $4.5 million earmarked for unforeseen expenses.
The extra $4.5 million is intended to cover potential costs related to rescheduling matches, should India decide against sending its team to Pakistan for the tournament.
However, there are concerns that this amount may not be enough to manage the logistics of relocating games if necessary.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place across three major Pakistani cities: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. The tournament will feature two groups: Group A with Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, and Group B comprising Australia, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa.
There have been ongoing discussions about potential boycotts, with reports suggesting that Pakistan might choose to skip the T20 World Cup 2026 and the Asia Cup 2025 if India opts out of the Champions Trophy 2025. This has led to speculation that Pakistan could reciprocate by not sending its team to India for the upcoming tournaments.
In response to these developments, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla stated that India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 will be contingent upon government approval for the team’s visit to Pakistan.
As the cricketing world awaits further clarity on these matters, the situation remains fluid, with both nations closely monitoring the evolving circumstances surrounding the tournament.