PCB to face ‘legal action’ over ICC Champions 2025 Trophy withdrawal threat?

New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces potential financial cutbacks, legal hurdles, and possible exclusion from the cricket fraternity if they decide to bow out from the ICC Champions Trophy, a fall out sparked by persisting disagreements with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the 50-over tournament that is scheduled for February-March. An influential cricket authority with first-hand experience of ICC tournaments asserted to PTI on Wednesday that the PCB would be between a rock and a hard place should they decide to skip participation in the Champions Trophy if the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India do not give their full approval for the Hybrid Model proposal.

“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.

Next year’s Champions Trophy has an exciting change in store – a new hybrid model, decided upon recently by the ICC. This decision will bring some of India’s matches to Dubai. Moreover, this approach isn’t just a one-off; they are considering employing this method for multi-lateral events all the way up to 2027. However, we’ll still have to sit tight for an official announcement.

The organizer emphasized that the broadcast deal mandates the inclusion of at least one face-off between Pakistan and India in every ICC event.

“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 and 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 fixture (s).” The administrator said that if Pakistan were to withdraw from the tournament it could face potential lawsuits from the ICC and maybe even some of the 16 other member boards on the ICC’s executive board and broadcaster as their withdrawal will hit the estimated revenues for all stakeholders.

He hinted that, aside from the legal complications, the Pakistan Cricket Board faces potential alienation as their Hybrid Model method isn’t presently gaining support from other boards.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been urged to address the ongoing controversy surrounding the matter. According to an official, “MPA’s 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 PCB is reportedly under pressure to agree to a Hybrid model. This arrangement acknowledges Pakistan’s refusal to play in India during ICC events while simultaneously allowing the BCCI and ICC to ensure that the semifinals and final of all ICC tournaments hosted in India over the next few years remain in the country, even if Pakistan qualifies for these crucial matches.

The head of the board confessed that their team wasn’t getting much-needed support from their fellow executive board members. They also highlighted the apparent lack of respect shown to them by the management team at ICC.

“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.

He noted that since being granted the hosting privileges, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has repeatedly raised concerns over India’s participation in Pakistan to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“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.