The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face loss of revenue, lawsuits and the risk of alienation from the cricketing world if it decides to withdraw from the ICC Champions Trophy as the impasse continues with governing body ICC over the how the 50-over event scheduled for February will be organised. -March. A senior cricket administrator who is well aware of the organization of ICC events told PTI on Wednesday that it would not be an easy decision for the PCB not to play in the Champions Trophy if their Hybrid Model format was not fully approved by the ICC is accepted and Board of Control for Cricket in India.
“Pakistan has not only signed a hosting agreement with the ICC, but like all other participating countries, it has also signed a Mandatory Participant Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC,” the administrator explained.
“Only after a Member State has signed the MPA to play in an ICC event will it be eligible to receive a share of the revenue from ICC events.
“Most importantly, when the ICC signed a broadcast agreement for all its event rights, it has given them the guarantee that all ICC members will be available to play in their events, including the Champions Trophy,” he said.
Last week, the ICC reached a consensus to conduct next year's Champions Trophy in a hybrid model, allowing India to play its share of matches in Dubai, while agreeing “in principle” to a similar arrangement for multilateral events until 2027. A formal announcement is awaited.
As part of the broadcast agreement, at least one match between Pakistan and India must be scheduled in all ICC events, the administrator said.
“The estimated bid a broadcaster makes for a long-term deal with the ICC comes only after it has calculated the estimated value of all matches involving all countries, and it is no surprise that the broadcaster makes up for its loss of revenue from other matches with the estimated revenue from the sale of commercial spots and other rights for the matches in Pakistan and India.” The administrator said that if Pakistan were to withdraw from the tournament, it could face possible lawsuits from the ICC and perhaps even some of the ICC's 16 other boards of directors and broadcasters, as their withdrawal could affect estimated revenues for all will influence stakeholders.
He said that besides lawsuits, the Pakistani board is also at risk of alienation as other boards are currently not supporting the PCB based on their hybrid model formula.
“PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi must clarify the entire issue. MPAs are the same for all countries and unless the PCB has included some safeguard clauses in their hosting agreement with the ICC for the CT, they are faced with a difficult situation.” The official said PCB is being pressured to accept a hybrid model where Pakistan's stand of not playing India in any ICC event is accepted but at the same time the BCCI and ICC agree that the semi-finals and finals of all ICC events scheduled in India in the coming years would be held in India even if Pakistan qualifies for any of these matches.
The administrator also disclosed that the PCB unfortunately did not receive solid support from other members of the board of directors and that even the ICC management did not give them the respect they deserved.
“The truth is that the ICC continued to sweep under the carpet or ignore the question of whether India would send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, even as this elephant in the room was brought to their attention several times since the board acquired the hosting rights granted. to Pakistan,” he added.
He added that the PCB has raised the question whether India will send its team to Pakistan multiple times with the ICC after getting hosting rights.
“Even the signing of the hosting rights was postponed within the PCB until the end of last year because they wanted a clear answer from the ICC and BCCI on this,” the manager said.
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