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The Champions Trophy 2025 was a historic moment for Pakistan, hosting its first global cricket tournament in 29 years. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suffered an 85% financial loss, having spent INR 869 crore for just one completed home game.
The Financial Breakdown:
- Venues Upgraded: Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi
- Total Spent: PKR 18 billion ($58 million), 50% over budget
- Event Preparations: $40 million
- Revenue Generated: $6 million (hosting fee and ticket sales)
- Loss Incurred: $85 million
The On-Field Disaster:
Pakistan played only one completed match at home, against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Matches against Bangladesh and others were washed out due to rain.
Players Face the Fallout:
The players bore the brunt of this financial debacle. Match fees in the national T20 championship were slashed by 90%, and reserve player payments reduced by 87.5%. Five-star accommodations were replaced with budget stays, while administrators continued to draw hefty salaries.
PCB’s Intervention:
Pakistani daily Dawn reported that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened to increase match fees from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000, still ₹10,000 less than the previous year.
