The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to face revenue losses, and lawsuits and also risk international isolation from cricket isolation if it decides to withdraw from the Champions Trophy as tension persists with ICC on organising the 50-over event scheduled in February-March.
After India refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy, the ICC intervened in the issues after Pakistan was reluctant to host the tournament within the country. However, ICC has proposed the Hybrid model for the 50-overs contest.
A senior cricket administrator who is well versed in the organisation of ICC events it would not be an easy decision for the PCB to not play in the Champions Trophy if their Hybrid Model formula is not accepted in entirety by the ICC and BCCI.
“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,” 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 broadcasting deal for all its events rights it has given a guarantee to them that all ICC members are available to play in their events including the Champions Trophy,” he said.
The ICC reached a consensus to conduct the eight team competition in a hybrid model allowing India to play its shares of matches in Dubai while agreeing ‘in principle’ to a similar arrangement in multi-lateral events till 2027.
The agreement means that Pakistan will not be obligated to travel to India for ICC events till 2027.
As part of the broadcast deal, atleast one India-Pakistan match has to be scheduled in all ICC events, said the administrator.
“The estimated bid a broadcaster makes for a long-term deal with the ICC is only after he has calculated the stimated 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 that if Pakistan were to withdraw from the tournament, it could face potential lawsuits from the ICC and even some of the 16 other members boards on the ICC’s executive board.
“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 stated.
The administrator are disclosed that the PCB didn’t have solid support from other members on the executive board.
“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.
“Even the signing of the hosting rights was delayed until late last year within the PCB because they wanted a clear answer from the ICC and BCCI on this issue,” said the administrator.
