In light of uncertainty regarding India’s involvement in the upcoming Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reached out to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to formally request India’s non-participation in the tournament set to take place in Pakistan early next year.
This communication follows the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informing the ICC that it would not be sending a team to the event. After receiving this information, the ICC advised the PCB, prompting the board to consult with the Pakistani government on the matter.
The PCB is taking a strong position in line with governmental advice, firmly rejecting any arrangement that would allow matches to be held outside Pakistan. Sources indicate that while India’s participation would benefit ICC’s revenues, Pakistan’s absence from matches against India could significantly impact those revenues as well.
Moreover, there’s a possibility that Pakistan might boycott various ICC events in India, protesting the mixing of sports with political issues and India’s refusal to play in Pakistan. Such a decision could have dire financial implications for global cricket, as the absence of Pakistan would likely decrease viewer interest and affect the ICC’s revenue from broadcasters and sponsors.
The ICC, which has secured a substantial amount from broadcast rights for the 2024-2027 period, heavily depends on matches involving Pakistan and India, which consistently draw large audiences. For instance, the recent World Cup match between the two rivals attracted an astounding 173 million viewers on Indian television and 225 million online.
It’s important to note that India has not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the BCCI opted out of the Asia Cup in Pakistan, resulting in a hybrid model for the tournament held partially in Sri Lanka. However, Pakistan did compete in India for the recent ODI World Cup, where they did not make it to the semi-finals.
