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As Pakistan prepares to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing a major financial crisis due to skyrocketing renovation costs for its stadiums. Initially, the PCB had allocated 12.3 billion Pakistani rupees (around ₹383 crore) for upgrading the venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. However, the expenses have now ballooned to 18 billion rupees (approximately ₹561 crore), an alarming increase of over 5 billion rupees (USD 20.4 million).
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PCB Struggles to Cover Costs
To address this unexpected financial burden, the PCB’s Board of Governors (BOG) has approved the additional budget and authorized its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to secure an overdraft between 3 to 6 billion rupees if necessary. A Dawn report suggests that the PCB could face a severe cash crunch in the coming months, potentially requiring external financial assistance to sustain its operations.
Documents from the BOG meeting reveal that despite holding reserves of 26 billion rupees last year, the PCB was forced to sell broadcast rights and other commercial deals for the 2024-26 period at a lower-than-expected price of 1.70 billion rupees.
To offset financial losses, the PCB is considering:
✅ Expanding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) by adding two new teams
✅ Renegotiating its 10-year contracts with PSL franchises, which are set to expire this year
High Expenditures Despite India’s Absence
A major financial setback for the PCB is that India has refused to play in Pakistan and will instead compete in Dubai. Despite this, the PCB is proceeding with expensive stadium renovations, raising concerns about whether these investments will be financially viable given the uncertain revenue potential of the tournament.
Champions Trophy 2025 Match Schedule
The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, with India playing all their matches in Dubai from February 20. The venue allocation for key matches is as follows:
🏟 Karachi – 3 matches (Pakistan vs. New Zealand, Afghanistan vs. South Africa, South Africa vs. England)
🏟 Lahore – 4 matches, including a semi-final
🏟 Rawalpindi – Key clashes, including Pakistan vs. Bangladesh
With financial uncertainty looming, the PCB now faces a critical test in ensuring a successful Champions Trophy while managing its growing economic crisis.
