The Champions Trophy 2025 represented the first international cricket tournament hosted in Pakistan in nearly three decades, marking a pivotal event in the nation's cricketing history. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a significant financial and logistical setback, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) incurred an 85 percent loss after investing INR 869 crore for merely one completed home match during the event.

As reported by The Telegraph, the PCB allocated PKR 18 billion (approximately $58 million) for upgrades to the three venues—Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi—exceeding their budget by 50 percent. Additionally, they expended $40 million on preparations for the event. In contrast, their revenue from the hosting fee, ticket sales, and sponsorships amounted to only $6 million, resulting in an estimated loss of around $85 million for the PCB.

It is noteworthy that the team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, played just one match at home against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Their subsequent game against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was canceled before the toss due to rain, and two out of the remaining eight matches held in Pakistan also faced similar weather-related cancellations.

Players pay the price

The repercussions of this financial mismanagement have adversely affected the players. The report indicates that match fees for the national T20 championship have been slashed by 90 percent, while payments for reserve players have been reduced by 87.5 percent. Cricketers who previously enjoyed accommodations in five-star hotels now find themselves in budget lodgings while administrators continue to receive substantial salaries.

According to the Pakistani national daily Dawn, the PCB recently cut match fees from ₹40,000 to ₹10,000 without any formal announcement. However, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened, overturning this decision and instructing the domestic cricket department to reevaluate the situation. Although the PCB has not officially announced the new fee structure, sources suggest it has been adjusted to ₹30,000 per match, which is ₹10,000 less than the previous year.

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