India's refusal puts CT in jeopardy

KARACHI:

India's refusal to tour Pakistan has cast uncertainty over the upcoming Champions Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are pushing for a hybrid model to host the event, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown resistance to this arrangement.

Potential host sites like the UAE have not yet been contacted to discuss alternatives.

The situation escalated on Friday night when the PCB received an email from the ICC. The message cited an official letter from India's government refusing permission for its cricket team to travel to Pakistan.

In response, the PCB informed the Pakistani government, which took a firm stance, emphasizing that this decision can affect national pride. According to government officials, if teams from other countries are willing to visit Pakistan, India should not be exempt without valid justification.

Within the next 24 to 48 hours, the PCB is expected to issue a letter to the ICC outlining Pakistan's official stance. The message will emphasize that, should India continue to decline, Pakistan may opt to avoid playing future tournaments involving India. This letter will also address potential issues caused by India's absence.

Sources indicate that the PCB has been instructed by the government to request a formal explanation of India's decision, with the possibility of legal action being considered.

There is speculation that if India remains firm, Pakistan might choose to boycott tournaments where India participates in future. Meanwhile, the ICC's delay in finalizing the event schedule has already raised concerns, as each passing day could impact broadcasting deals and the overall revenue generated from the tournament.

Financial risks

For over a decade, Pakistan has demonstrated flexibility, participating in multiple ICC events in India and even helping ICC and BCCI avoid contractual issues with broadcasters.

But after India's recent decision to skip the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, which led to a hybrid format, Pakistan's government is considering a policy restricting Pakistani teams from competing against India unless sports and politics are separated.

Pakistan's absence could weaken viewership and ICC's projected revenue from broadcasters and sponsors.

The ICC, which secured $3.2 billion from broadcast rights for the 2024-2027 cycle and anticipates $1 billion more in other revenue, relies heavily on marquee events featuring Pakistan and India, which consistently attract record viewership and engagement.

"No India vs Pakistan games in ICC events mean all broadcast and sponsorship deals would fall out," said a source which said that a match in ICC event is important for global cricket.

In recent years, the ICC has made sure that India plays Pakistan at least once in each of global cricketing events, ensuring a major chunk of revenue from this game.

The India-Pakistan match at the 2023 World Cup drew unprecedented interest, with 173 million viewers on Indian TV and 225 million digital viewers. The 2021 T20 World Cup match between the two sides reached 167 million viewers and drove 15.9 billion minutes of engagement in India alone, highlighting Pakistan's role in generating cricket viewership and revenue figures.

Without Pakistan's participation, the ICC could face contractual challenges with broadcasters and sponsors expecting both teams to play in high-stakes matches. Legal disputes with commercial partners, potential revenue drops, and a decline in ICC's financial distribution to member nations are likely consequences.

Such a reduction could impact on countries that depend on these distributions to sustain their cricket programs. The BCCI, who will receive biggest share of ICC revenue will also suffer due to this issue.

In contrast to other boards' financial dependence on India, Pakistan has maintained its cricket program without playing bilateral series against India and without Pakistan's player getting opportunity to participate in cash-rich Indian Premier League since 2009 and has achieved major titles like the 2009 T20 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy.