Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @icctrophytour
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face significant revenue losses, potential lawsuits, and international isolation if it withdraws from hosting the ICC Champions Trophy due to disagreements over the event’s proposed hybrid model for February-March next year.
According to Business Standard, a senior cricket administrator familiar with ICC event management told PTI on Wednesday that withdrawing would not be an easy decision for the PCB if the ICC and BCCI do not fully accept the hybrid model.
“Pakistan has not only signed a host agreement with the ICC but, like all other participating nations, it has also signed a mandatory Members’ Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC,” the administrator explained.
“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 guaranteed that all ICC members would participate, including in the Champions Trophy,” he added.
Last week, the ICC reached a preliminary agreement to host the eight-team tournament in a hybrid model, allowing India to play its matches in Dubai while extending the arrangement to multi-lateral events until 2027. A formal announcement is still pending.
The agreement also exempts Pakistan from traveling to India for ICC events until 2027. As part of the broadcast deal, at least one India-Pakistan match is required in all ICC tournaments, noted the administrator.
“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.” the administrator said.
If Pakistan withdraws, it could face lawsuits from the ICC and other member boards, as well as legal action from broadcasters due to the potential impact on revenue.
“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 administrator warned.
The administrator further revealed that the PCB lacked strong backing from other ICC executive board members.
“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.
The PCB delayed signing the hosting agreement until late last year, seeking clarity from the ICC and BCCI on the matter, the administrator disclosed.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
