Losses at various levels may hurt Pakistan cricket badly if the country’s cricket board decides to pull out of the Champions Trophy over standoff on the mode of hosting the tournament after India’s refusal to travel across the border to participate.
Damages in terms of revenue and reputation besides implications as serious as international alienation are likely to be in store for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) if they withdraw from the tournament.
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“Pakistan has not only signed a host agreement with the ICC but like all other participating nations in the event, it has also signed a mandatory Members’ Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC,” a senior cricket administrator in Karachi told PTI.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9, but the fixtures are yet to be released because of the impasse involving the PCB, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“It is only after a member nation signs the MPA for playing in an ICC event that it is eligible to get a share of revenues earned from ICC events. Most importantly when the ICC signed a broadcast deal for all its events, it has given a guarantee that all ICC members are available to play in their events, including the Champions Trophy,” he added.
The ICC’s broadcast deal includes one India-Pakistan match in all ICC events, according to the official.
The Champions Trophy is making a return to the ICC calendar for the first time since 2017.
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A consensus was reached after an ICC meeting last week that an eight-team competition will be held in hybrid mode. That arrangement will allow India to play their matches in Dubai. Pakistan, on their part has, put a condition that they too will not be obligated to travel to India for ICC events till 2027, which has also been agreed upon.
However, no official announcement has been made so far.
“The estimated bid a broadcaster makes for a long-term deal with the ICC is only after he has calculated the estimated value of all matches involving all countries. It is no surprise that the broadcaster offsets his loss of revenues from other matches with the estimated earnings from selling commercial spots and other rights for the Pakistan and India fixtures,” said the official.
Pakistan’s potential withdrawal from the tournament might result in legal challenges from both the ICC and several of the 16 member boards represented on the ICC’s executive board. Additionally, broadcasting partners could pursue legal action, as Pakistan’s absence would adversely affect the projected financial returns for all involved parties.
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“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has to come clean on the whole issue. MPAs are the same for all countries and unless the PCB has kept some safeguard clauses in their host agreement with the ICC for the CT, they face a tricky situation,” the official said.
“The truth is the ICC kept on sweeping the issue of whether India would send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, under the carpet or ignoring it even when this elephant in the room was brought to their notice several times since the board granted hosting rights to Pakistan,” he added.
