Champions Trophy 2025: Suspense continues over the schedule and venue of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament was hosted by Pakistan, but the Indian cricket team will not tour the neighboring country due to security reasons. The Indian government has not allowed the Indian cricket team to go to Pakistan. For this reason, it is possible to organize this entire tournament on Pakistani soil. Now ICC wants to organize this tournament under ‘hybrid model’.
The ICC had made it clear to Mohsin Naqvi in the Executive Board meeting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should either adopt a ‘hybrid model’ or be ready to withdraw from the tournament. PCB chief Naqvi is happy with the ‘hybrid model’, but with some conditions. PCB’s biggest bet is that Pakistan’s share in ICC’s revenue is more than 5.75%. This is a situation which can spoil the whole game.
PCB unhappy with revenue sharing
The ICC is distributing $600 million (approximately Rs 5073 crore) annually under its current revenue model (2024-27). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is getting the highest share of ICC’s revenue at 38.50% (about Rs 1953 crore annually). Whereas the share of allied countries is 11.19%. England, Australia and Pakistan are getting 6.89%, 6.25% and 5.75% share respectively every year.
If seen, Pakistan’s share is around Rs 291 crore every year. He is upset with the share that Pakistan is getting. India is getting 7 times more money than Pakistan, which is absolutely right. India is the largest cricket market and contributes greatly to ICC’s revenue. In such a situation, the current revenue model of ICC is quite suitable.
The PCB now wants to increase its share in ICC’s revenue from 5.75%, which seems impossible at the moment. ICC may host Champions Trophy without Pakistan if PCB insists on increasing revenue share. However, this could damage ICC’s reputation and also lead to financial losses.
ICC’s current revenue model
Country
Revenue share (in millions of dollars)
Revenue share (in%)
India
231.00
38.50
allied nation
67.16
11.19%
England
41.33
6.89%
Australia
37.53
6.25%
Pakistan
34.51
5.75%
new zealand
28.38
4.73%
west indies
27.50
4.58%
Sri Lanka
27.12
4.52 %
bangladesh
26.74
4.46%
South Africa
26.24
4.37%
ireland
18.04
3.01%
zimbabwe
17.64
2.94%
afghanistan
16.82
2.80%
One of the conditions of the PCB is to implement the ‘hybrid model’ of ICC tournaments to be held in India by 2031, which does not seem possible, i.e. Pakistan does not want to come to India and play in ICC tournaments during this period. India is scheduled to host three ICC men’s tournaments by 2031, including the 2026 T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka, the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 ODI World Cup with Bangladesh.
Another condition of PCB is that Lahore should be kept as a backup for the Champions Trophy final. And if India does not reach the final then the final match should be held in Lahore. If Pakistan accepts the ‘hybrid model’ then the match against India will be held in Dubai. Whereas the remaining matches will be held in Pakistan and Pakistan will have the hosting rights. If the tournament is postponed, PCB will have to lose hosting fees of $ 6 million (Rs 50.73 crore).
