The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a substantial budget of approximately USD 70 million for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament, scheduled to be held in Pakistan early next year. This decision was made after careful scrutiny and approval by the ICC’s financial and commercial committee, led by BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
The budget allocation includes a provision of USD 4.5 million for additional expenses, sparking speculation that these funds may be used to cover potential venue changes in case India declines to send its team to Pakistan. However, sources close to the ICC have indicated that this amount is insufficient to cover the costs of moving matches from Pakistan.
The approval of the budget has also raised questions about the potential impact on the Asia Cup, which is set to be hosted by India in 2025 and Bangladesh in 2027. The tentative format for the 2024 Asia Cup suggests that India and Pakistan could face off twice in the tournament, with a third match possible if both teams qualify for the final.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding the upcoming tournaments, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has reported profits from the 2023 Asia Cup, which was held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The source attributed these profits to the high viewership and excitement generated by the India-Pakistan matches.
The ICC’s decision to approve the budget for the Champions Trophy and the ACC’s plans for the Asia Cup highlight the importance of these tournaments in the global cricket calendar. The upcoming events are expected to attract significant attention and generate substantial revenue, further solidifying cricket’s position as one of the most popular sports worldwide.
