Pakistan's cricket future hangs in the balance amid a deadlock with India over the Champions Trophy.
PCB, the designated hosts for the marquee event, has reportedly demanded a written assurance from the ICC on the hybrid model for future global tournaments after the BCCI communicated to the apex body that the Indian team will not travel across the border abiding by the policy of its government.
Speculations are rife that Pakistan might consider boycotting the ICC tournament if their demands are not being fulfilled.
However, PCB’s potential withdrawal over hosting arrangements could lead to significant financial losses, lawsuits and international isolation, news agency PTI reported.
"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," PTI quoted a senior cricket administrator in Karachi as saying.
As per the tentative schedule, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is slated to be played from February 19 to March 9, but the fixtures are yet to be released because of the deadlock involving the PCB, BCCI and ICC.
"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 broadcast deal for all its events, it has given a guarantee that all ICC members are available to play in their events, including the Champions Trophy," he added.
During the ICC meeting last week, a consensus was reached, as per which, the eight-team competition will be held in hybrid mode.
This arrangement will enable India to play their matches in Dubai. Pakistan, on the other hand, has put a condition that they too will not be obligated to travel to India for ICC events till 2027, which has also been accepted. However, no official announcement has been made so far.
"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. 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 fixtures," the official told PTI.
Pakistan's decision to pull out of the tournament may result in legal consequences from both the ICC and several of the 16 member boards represented on the ICC's executive board.
Moreover, broadcasting partners could take legal action, as Pakistan's absence would adversely affect the projected financial returns for all involved parties.
"PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has to come clean on the whole issue. MPAs 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 official said.
"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.
(With PTI Inputs)