ICC Likely To Suffer USD 250 Million Blow With No India-Pakistan Contest In T20 World Cup

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup: The India-Pakistan match is a financial juggernaut for the ICC, generating an estimated USD 250 million (approximately Rs 2200 crore) in revenue, but the fixture has been hanging on a thin thread, and without the game, the T20 World Cup is bracing for significant financial losses, impacting stakeholders across the board.

As per news agency PTI, the popularity of the India vs Pakistan match has led the ICC to put the two traditional rivals in the same group of major tournaments, despite strained bilateral relations.

On Sunday, after much suspense, the Pakistan government granted permission to the national cricket team to play in the T20 World Cup but to boycott the marquee clash against India in Colombo on February 15.

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Pakistan's refusal to participate in the fight against India could trigger substantial revenue losses, potentially dealing a significant blow to ICC coffers and straining India's media rights holder for a USD 3 billion deal.

The report also suggested that "the host broadcaster could incur advertisement revenue losses in the range of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee game whose 10-second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh."

A former ICC and PCB communications head, Sami-ul-Hasan Burney, described the importance of the money depending on just one game.

"As regards the sanctions or the losses, as I said, the one match is costing USD 250 million (everything accounted for not just broadcaster's loss). Pakistan's annual revenue is USD 35.5 million, so there is a big, big difference," he told PTI.

The manner and tenor of ICC's statement following the Pakistan government announcement also highlighted the agreed value of the contest.

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"This position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule," the ICC said.

"ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions," the statement further read.

Meanwhile, amid the drama, Pakistan left for Colombo to play its other games in the marquee event, starting on February 7.