No India-Pakistan Match? ICC Could Lose ₹2,289 Crore in T20 World Cup Fallout
The International Cricket Council (ICC) faces a serious dilemma. The Pakistan government’s call to boycott India during the T20 World Cup 2026 could cause heavy financial damage to the global cricket body.
The two arch-rivals between India and Pakistan only compete against each other during international tournaments which include ICC events and T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy and all formats of Asia Cup competitions which are part of ACC events.
The lack of regular India vs Pakistan games drives massive demand for these showdowns. Broadcasters willingly pay huge amounts for ICC tournaments, but only on the condition that India and Pakistan face each other. This is why both teams are regularly placed in the same group at ICC events.
The Age reports that men's ICC events from 2023 to 2027 currently have a broadcast rights cycle which holds a value of US$3 billion (INR 27,465 crore approximately). India vs Pakistan matches generate more than 40% of the total broadcast revenue.
The two nations have competed against each other in every ICC event for the past three years. The 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup, and 2025 Champions Trophy. Each match had a value of $250 million which equals INR 2289 crore.
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