Imagine losing over ₹220 crore in revenue - that’s the staggering financial blow Pakistan Cricket Board could face if India decides to boycott Pakistan cricket team. With the current mood of the nation, there’s growing clamour for the Board of Control for Cricket in India to withdraw from the Asia Cup, citing the fact that the Asian Cricket Council, which organizes the Asia Cup, is currently headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
If India decides to boycott the Asia Cup - which they are supposed to host this September - it will be catastrophic for the tournament’s viability. India-Pakistan matches are the crown jewels of Asian cricket, capable of drawing record-breaking TV viewership and commanding premium advertising rates. In fact, India and Pakistan can face off up to three times during the Asia Cup, each match a financial goldmine. Without India, the tournament loses its biggest attraction, and sponsors and broadcasters will likely reconsider their investments.
Sony Pictures Networks India paid a whopping $170 million for Asia Cup broadcast rights from 2024 to 2032, a deal heavily reliant on India’s participation. Without Team India, this deal could be renegotiated at a steep discount, slashing the revenue pool drastically. Currently, full ACC members like Pakistan receive 15% of broadcast earnings - a stream that could dry up completely if the Asia Cup is cancelled or loses its star team.
This is not the first time Pakistan has faced such a massive financial hit due to political tensions. The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, originally slated to be hosted in Pakistan completely, was partially played in Dubai after India refused to play in Pakistan. Despite Pakistan investing nearly PKR 14 billion in stadium upgrades, the PCB suffered reported losses exceeding PKR 7 billion (around ₹700 crore), with poor ticket sales and rain-hit matches compounding the crisis. To stay afloat, the PCB had to take overdrafts up to PKR 6 billion, delaying payments to players and officials - a clear sign of financial strain.
Contrast this with India, where the financial impact is comparatively negligible - a mere fraction of the revenue at stake for Pakistan. India’s cricket economy is robust and diversified, cushioning it from such political disruptions. For Pakistan, however, the absence of India in the Asia Cup is not just a lost rivalry; it’s a potential economic disaster that threatens the very sustainability of their cricket board.
Adding to the complexity, India has reportedly requested the ICC not to place them in the same group as Pakistan in future tournaments, further isolating Pakistan on the global cricket stage. PCB currently earns ₹220 CR from Asia Cup and ICC tournament revenue involving matches with India, but that could all be gone very soon. With Mohsin Naqvi juggling his dual roles as PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, the political undertones are undeniable, making reconciliation in cricketing ties even more distant.
In short, if India walks away from the Asia Cup and other ACC events, Pakistan stands to lose hundreds of crores in revenue, while India’s cricketing juggernaut remains largely unscathed. The Asia Cup without India is not just a tournament in crisis - it’s a financial nightmare for Pakistan cricket.
