A reliable source within the (International Cricket Council) ICC disclosed on Thursday that the organization’s financial and commercial committee, chaired by the (Board of Control for Cricket in India) BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, had meticulously examined and sanctioned the budget.
Notably, the budget was collaboratively prepared and presented by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ICC’s finance department and has been ratified at USD 70 million (INR 5,721,800,000). The source suggested that the additional allocation of USD 4.5 million seems relatively inadequate in the context of the overall budget, particularly when factoring in the complexities and expenses associated with relocating matches from Pakistan, should India decline to dispatch its team and necessitate the use of alternative venues.
“The approximate budget is around USD 70 million and only USD 4.5 million has been allocated as additional expenses,” an ICC official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Jay Shah, who concurrently presides over the Asian Cricket Council, was also at the helm when the regional entity recently allocated the T20 format to the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup to India and the 50-over format of the Asia Cup 2027 to Bangladesh.
The profits came because of the India and Pakistan games: ICC Source
The source revealed that under the preliminary arrangement for the forthcoming Asia Cup, India and Pakistan are set to be grouped together once more, with the potential for a subsequent clash in the single-group Super Four stage. Furthermore, there exists a tangible prospect of a third encounter should both teams advance to the final by occupying the top two positions during that phase.
“The profits came because of the India and Pakistan games. A third match could happen if they qualify for the final,” the source close to ICC stated.
The source also revealed that despite the ensuing confusion, late venue alterations, and additional expenses throughout the tournament, the Asian Cricket Council successfully generated profits from the 2023 Asia Cup, held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The majority of these earnings were derived from the highly-anticipated matches between India and Pakistan (of which one was washed out due to rain), according to the same source.