The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned a budget of $70 million for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the 2025 Champions Trophy, slated for February-March, according to a recent report by Times of India.
The budget approval came after an extensive review by the ICC’s financial and commercial committee, which is led by Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The budget proposal, collaboratively drafted and submitted by the PCB and the ICC Finance Department, was carefully scrutinized before receiving the green light.
A source close to the ICC revealed that the allocated budget includes $4.5 million earmarked for potential additional expenses. Speculation has arisen that this additional fund might be intended to cover the costs of hosting some matches at alternate venues outside of Pakistan, in case the Indian team opts out of traveling to the country.
The uncertainty surrounding India’s participation stems from the BCCI’s need for government clearance to send the team to Pakistan. Recent reports from Indian media suggest that the Indian cricket board may propose alternative venues, such as Dubai or Sri Lanka, for hosting India’s matches if they decide not to participate in Pakistan.
The backdrop to this situation includes India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 ACC Men’s Asia Cup, leading to the tournament being held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka co-hosting the event. This decision was influenced by the strained political relations between the two countries, which have prevented India from touring Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
In contrast, Pakistan has visited India four times over the past 16 years, with their most recent trip occurring during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023. The current scenario continues to highlight the challenges and complexities involved in scheduling international cricket events between the two neighboring nations.
