ICC's reliance on India vs Pakistan
The ICC has made sure to take advantage of the rivalry over the last decade. However, the World Test Championship is the only ICC event in which the two countries have not faced each other. Both the countries have been strategically placed in the same group after their exit from the 2007 ODI World Cup. The same happened with the Champions Trophy 2025, where New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan have been placed in Group A along with India.
India-Pakistan rivalry will no longer be a source of income
According to media reports, the PCB's plans to boycott India could mean that the rivalry, which raises huge sums of money for the ICC, will no longer be a source of income. The ICC has already signed broadcast rights deals worth $3.2 billion (about Rs 27,000 crore) for the 2024-27 cycle and is expected to earn about $1 billion (about Rs 8,439 crore) more in revenue from various sources.
All broadcasting deals will end
If the India vs Pakistan match does not take place in the Champions Trophy, ODI or T20 World Cup, the broadcast rights for the next cycle may be reduced and ICC's revenue may also reduce. A source in Cricket Pakistan said that no India vs Pakistan match in ICC events means that all broadcasting and sponsorship deals will come to an end.
Importance of Pakistan in cricket
Many people consider ODI as a dying format, but in India alone, about 40 crore (400 million) people came to watch the match between the arch rivals in the ODI World Cup to be held in 2023. The match between the two is often watched by more viewers than the final.
The entire cricket world will be affected
The money the ICC receives from the competition goes to many countries. This means that Pakistan's absence will affect not just one or two countries but the entire cricket world. Another source in Cricket Pakistan said that Pakistan's role is important not only for the game but also for the financial ecosystem of cricket. Pakistan attracts top sponsors and spectators, which translates into revenue for the ICC and all cricket playing nations.
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