PCB on Withdraw from Champion;s Trophy 2025: If Pakistan decides to withdraw from the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may have to face the risk of revenue loss and isolation from the cricket world, as the methods of this 50-over event to be held in February-March. There is a deadlock with ICC regarding this. A senior cricket administrator well-informed about ICC events told PTI on Wednesday that if their hybrid model formula is not fully accepted by the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Champions Trophy will be in danger for the PCB. Not playing will not be an easy decision.
“Pakistan has not only signed a hosting agreement with the ICC, but like all other countries participating in the event, it has also signed a Mandatory Member Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC,” the administrator said. ” “Only after a member country has signed an MPA to play in an ICC event is it entitled to receive a share of the revenue earned from ICC events. He said, “Most importantly, when the ICC has signed all its event rights, “It has guaranteed them that all ICC members are available to play in their events, including the Champions Trophy.”
Last week, the ICC formed a consensus to hold next year’s Champions Trophy in a hybrid model, allowing India to play its share of matches in Dubai, while calling for similar arrangements in multilateral events until 2027. “Agreed in principle”. However, a formal announcement is awaited. The administrator said that as part of the broadcast deal, at least one Pakistan and India match should be scheduled in all ICC events.
“The estimated bid placed by a broadcaster for a long-term deal with the ICC is only after it has calculated the estimated value of all the matches involving all the countries and it is no surprise that the broadcaster is looking at the revenue from other matches. It compensates for its loss of revenue by anticipated income from the sale of commercial spots and other rights for matches between Pakistan and India.” The administrator said that if Pakistan withdrew from the tournament, it would face potential lawsuits from the ICC and perhaps some of the ICC Executive Board and the 16 other member boards of the broadcasters because their withdrawal would impact everyone’s projected revenues.
He said that apart from the lawsuits, the Pakistan board is also facing the threat of isolation as other boards are currently not supporting the PCB on their hybrid model formula. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will have to clarify the entire issue. MPAs are the same for all countries and unless the PCB has put some security clauses in its host agreement with the ICC for CT, they will face a difficult situation.
The official said that the PCB is being pressured to accept the hybrid model under which Pakistan’s stance of not playing any ICC event in India is being accepted, but at the same time BCCI and ICC are in agreement on this. It is expected that the semi-finals and finals of all ICC events to be held in India in the next few years will be held in India, even if Pakistan qualifies for any of these matches. The administrator also revealed that unfortunately the PCB did not get solid support from other members of the executive board and even the ICC management did not give them the respect they deserved.
He said, “The truth is that the ICC kept suppressing or ignoring the issue of whether India would send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, even though the issue had been raised several times since the board awarded the hosting rights to Pakistan. The bar was brought to his notice.” He said that even after getting the hosting rights, PCB had raised the issue with the ICC several times whether India would send its team to Pakistan. “Even the signing of the hosting rights was postponed till late last year within the PCB because they wanted a clear answer from the ICC and BCCI on this issue,” the administrator said.
