Daily Times

After India declined to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, Islamabad has decided to take a firm stance, potentially boycotting International Cricket Council (ICC) events held in India if political issues continue to interfere with sports and the Indian team remains unwilling to visit Pakistan for the tournament.

This decision could have significant financial and structural repercussions for international cricket.

For over a decade, Pakistan showed flexibility by participating in various ICC events in India, helping both the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) avoid conflicts with broadcasters.

However, following India’s recent refusal to participate in the 2023 Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan, which resulted in a hybrid format, and now refusing to send the team for the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistani government is considering a policy that bars its teams from playing against India unless there’s a clear separation of sports and politics.

A complete boycott of matches against India, as recommended by the Pakistani government, could disrupt several ICC tournaments scheduled in India from 2024 to 2031.

Pakistan’s absence would likely weaken viewership and reduce the ICC’s expected revenue from broadcasters and sponsors.

The ICC, which secured $3.2 billion in broadcast rights for the 2024-2027 cycle and expects an additional $1 billion in other revenues, heavily depends on marquee events featuring India and Pakistan, as these matches consistently attract record audiences and engagement.

“Without India-Pakistan games in ICC events, key broadcast and sponsorship agreements would collapse,” noted a source, emphasizing the significance of these matches for global cricket.

In recent years, the ICC has ensured that India faces Pakistan at least once in each major tournament, securing a significant portion of revenue from this highly anticipated fixture.

The India-Pakistan clash during the 2023 World Cup saw unprecedented interest, with 173 million viewers on Indian TV and 225 million on digital platforms.

The 2021 T20 World Cup encounter between the two nations attracted 167 million viewers and generated 15.9 billion minutes of engagement in India alone, showcasing the pivotal role Pakistan plays in driving cricket viewership and revenue. Without Pakistan’s involvement, the ICC could face legal issues with broadcasters and sponsors expecting both teams to participate in high-profile matches.

Potential legal disputes with commercial partners, revenue losses, and reduced financial distributions from the ICC to member nations could be the outcome.

A decline in ICC revenue might affect smaller cricket boards that rely on these funds to sustain their programs. Even the BCCI, which receives the largest share of ICC revenue, could be negatively impacted.

“Pakistan’s presence is essential not only for the game’s integrity but also for the financial ecosystem of cricket,” stated a senior official from a multinational sponsor. “Top sponsors and viewers are drawn by Pakistan, translating into revenue for the ICC and member countries.”

Unlike other boards that are financially dependent on India, Pakistan has sustained its cricket program without bilateral series against India and without Pakistani players participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009, achieving major titles like the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy.

Pakistan’s self-reliance contrasts with other boards that lean on India for financial support, as evidenced by the ICC’s recent scheduling of India’s matches for the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York and Guyana to maximize revenue.

Preparations for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan are already in progress. ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice reaffirmed Pakistan’s hosting rights in September 2024, with venue upgrades underway in Lahore and Karachi.

The tournament’s budget has been approved by the ICC, and Pakistan’s commitment to the event has received backing from the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and Board.

An ICC insider acknowledged that the organization is now awaiting a response from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and admitted that if Pakistan adopts the reported stance – where the government prohibits them from playing against India – it would create significant challenges for the ICC.