Champions Trophy 2025: How much money Pakistan can lose if tournament gets shifted or postponed?

The deadlock between India and Pakistan over the Champions Trophy 2025 continues to keep the cricket fraternity in a standstill. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi is determined to hold the entirety of the global event in Pakistan. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently informed the board that India has refused to make the trip to their neighbouring nation to partake in the tournament.

There can be huge financial implications for PCB if the multi-nation tournament is either postponed or moved to any other country. The showpiece event is currently scheduled to be hosted exclusively in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. However, due to the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the tournament, the fixtures have not been revealed to the public as yet.

The ICC recently suggested to the PCB that the tournament can be hosted in a hybrid model, where the Men in Blue will play their matches at neutral venues, like the UAE. According to a report in Cricbuzz, if the tournament is postponed or moved to any other country, the PCB could be facing ICC sanctions, including cuts to substantial ICC funding, if it withdraws.

The report further states that shifting or postponing the Champions Trophy would result in losing a potential USD 65 million in hosting fees, a considerable amount for the PCB.

The report also adds that this loss will become more painful because PCB had made substantial investments to improve the infrastructure at three of the venues that were designated to host Champions Trophy 2025 matches - Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore.

PCB asks ICC to explain India's refusal to come to Pakistan

If Pakistan ends up hosting the tournament, this would be the first time they will do so since they co-hosted the ODI World Cup in 1996 along with India and Sri Lanka. The PCB has asked the ICC to explain why India has refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy 2025. According to Pakistani media, PCB would be unwilling to accept security reasons for India's decision not to board the flight to Pakistan. This is because teams like New Zealand and England have made multiple trips to the Asian country in the past couple of years.

Also Read- Reports: Champions Trophy 2025 to be relocated to South Africa if PCB denies ICC's proposal

If Pakistan pull out of the tournament, it could be detrimental to the ICC as the global body might run the risk of dealing with contractual challenges. Broadcasters and sponsors are expecting India and Pakistan to play in high-voltage matches which has the potential of generating massive revenues. Legal disputes with commercial partners, potential revenue drops and a decline in ICC's financial distribution to members are some of the consequences.