Pakistan’s Economic Struggles and a Costly Sporting Gamble
Pakistan’s economy has been in turmoil, grappling with record-high inflation, mounting debt, and a struggling currency. Amid these financial challenges, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saw the Champions Trophy 2025 as an opportunity to revive cricket in the country and attract global attention. However, instead of being a moment of triumph, the tournament turned into a massive financial debacle.
With an 85% financial loss amounting to INR 869 crore (approximately $85 million), Pakistan’s efforts to host an international event after 29 years have backfired. The scale of this loss is staggering—comparable to the cost of an F-35 fighter jet. The financial disaster has now forced drastic cuts in domestic cricket, further deepening the crisis for players and stakeholders.
A Hybrid Model That Backfired
The Champions Trophy 2025 was originally supposed to be hosted entirely in Pakistan, marking a historic return of global cricket to the country. However, due to security concerns and India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) implemented a hybrid model, with India’s matches being played in Dubai instead.
This arrangement not only impacted Pakistan’s cricketing prestige but also dealt a severe financial blow. With three major venues—Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi—renovated at nearly double the budget, and event preparations costing millions more, PCB was left with a massive financial hole.
Financial Breakdown: A Tournament of Losses
According to a report in The Telegraph, the PCB spent a staggering PKR 18 billion ($58 million) on stadium upgrades and $40 million on event preparations, totalling $98 million. However, they only managed to recover $6 million through the hosting fee, ticket sales, and sponsorships. This left Pakistan with a crippling loss of $85 million.
To put this in perspective, this loss exceeds the price of an F-35 fighter jet, one of the world’s most advanced military aircraft.
Cricketing Performance: A Disappointment on the Field
While the financial loss was devastating, Pakistan’s performance on the field mirrored the disaster off it.
· The Men in Green played only one completed match at home, a game against New Zealand in Lahore.
· Their match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was washed out, and two other fixtures met the same fate.
· Pakistan suffered an early exit from the tournament, failing to capitalize on their home advantage.
· India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, eventually winning their third Champions Trophy title, further overshadowing Pakistan’s role as the host nation.
Players Bear the Brunt of PCB’s Financial Crisis
To compensate for the massive losses, the PCB has implemented drastic cost-cutting measures, affecting players and domestic cricket:
· Match fees for the National T20 Championship have been slashed by 90%, from ₹40,000 to ₹10,000.
· Reserve player payments have been reduced by 87.5%.
· Players who were previously accommodated in five-star hotels were moved to budget accommodations, while PCB officials continued to draw hefty salaries.
· Pakistani national daily Dawn reported that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened to revise the match fee cuts after backlash, settling it at ₹30,000 per match, still ₹10,000 less than last year.
What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
The financial catastrophe of the Champions Trophy 2025 has left Pakistan cricket in a deep crisis. With domestic players facing reduced earnings and facilities, the country’s cricketing infrastructure is at risk of further decline.
This event has raised serious questions about PCB’s financial planning and governance. Moving forward, Pakistan must rethink its approach to hosting international events, ensure better financial management, and focus on long-term cricketing and economic stability.
With the country already struggling with economic challenges, this massive loss only adds to Pakistan’s growing list of financial woes, making a swift recovery even more difficult.
(With inputs from agencies)
