The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) to request an explanation regarding India’s refusal to participate in the Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February-March 2025. This move comes amid growing uncertainty over India’s participation in the eight-team tournament.
Sources indicated that the PCB decided to write to the ICC after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed the global cricketing body of its decision not to send its team to Pakistan. The ICC then communicated this decision to the PCB, prompting the Pakistani board to seek further clarification from the ICC regarding India’s stance.
Following consultations with the Pakistani government, the PCB adopted a firm position on the issue and rejected the possibility of hosting the tournament under a “hybrid model,” which would have seen some matches played in neutral venues. This decision has further complicated the situation as India’s participation remains in question.
In response to the ongoing uncertainty, sources revealed that the Pakistani government is considering implementing a policy that could prevent Pakistani teams from competing against India unless the separation of sports from politics is guaranteed. A full boycott of matches against India, as suggested by the government, could have significant implications for future ICC events scheduled in India between 2024 and 2031. Pakistan’s absence from these tournaments might result in lower viewership and reduced revenue from broadcasters and sponsors, which heavily rely on the India-Pakistan matches to drive engagement.
The ICC is facing considerable financial risks in light of this dispute. The global cricket governing body secured $3.2 billion from broadcast rights for the 2024-2027 cycle and expects another $1 billion in additional revenue from sponsorships. India and Pakistan’s matchups are critical to the ICC’s financial health, consistently drawing massive viewership and engagement from global audiences.
The India-Pakistan match during the 2023 World Cup, for instance, attracted a record 173 million viewers on Indian television and 225 million digital viewers, while the 2021 T20 World Cup encounter drew 167 million viewers and generated 15.9 billion minutes of engagement in India alone. The ICC relies heavily on such high-profile matchups to generate substantial revenue.
If Pakistan were to boycott ICC events or withdraw from matches against India, the ICC could face legal disputes with broadcasters and sponsors, potential revenue losses, and a decrease in its financial distributions to member nations. This ongoing situation highlights the significant role that India-Pakistan matchups play in the business of global cricket.
