Asia Cup 2025 in doubt as PCB faces major financial blow amid political unrest: Report

The plans for the 2025 Asia Cup T20 appear murky and uncertain, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expects to lose a huge amount of money from its coffers if it does not go ahead. India was set to host the tournament in September, and the poor political situation and subsequent Pahalgam events highlighted by the Pakistan Army led both governments to throw the tournament into uncertainty.

According to a PTI report, the PCB had budgeted an estimated revenue of 1.16 billion rupees (around ₹35 crore) from the Asia Cup alone. Overall, the board was expecting to earn roughly 7.7 billion rupees (₹664 crore) from its share of ICC revenue and an additional 7.7 million rupees from other international cricketing events. Adding to that, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was projected to bring in another 2.5 billion rupees (₹249 crore), forming a major chunk of the board's annual 18.8 billion rupees budget.

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ACC Meeting Looms as Political Tensions Threaten Asia Cup 2025 and PCB's Financial Stability

However, the financial plan is now under threat; PCB insiders are adamant that revenues from the ICC and the Asia Cup are essential to the board's financial well-being. With the Asia Cup now being cancelled or postponed, it could create a huge hole in the PCB's revenue stream.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has called an urgent meeting in Dhaka on July 24 to decide the future of the tournament. But issues were already arising with BCCI's announcement that it won't participate unless there is a change of venue. Similar positions have been taken by Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Oman. Although PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi accepted a virtual invitation to the ICC AGM, CEO Sumair accepted an in-person invitation and didn't receive positive responses from the major boards.

Although there had been plans to shift the Asia Cup to a neutral venue such as the UAE, no concrete decision has emerged yet. With time running out, the financial and cricketing future of the PCB hinges on resolving this diplomatic impasse quickly.