The fate of the 2025 Asia Cup remains uncertain, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face a major financial blow if the tournament doesn’t go ahead. With no confirmation yet from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) about the tournament’s status, the PCB is preparing for a potential revenue loss, especially after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) offered little clarity, reigniting doubts around the event.
According to PTI, the PCB had budgeted approximately ₹264 crore in revenue for this year—₹34.8 crore of that expected from the Asia Cup alone. A major chunk of the remaining amount, nearly ₹230 crore, is expected to come from its share of ICC earnings. A board insider emphasized how crucial these two revenue sources are for the financial health of Pakistan cricket.
The situation grew more complicated when PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the ACC, skipped last weekend’s ICC meeting in Singapore and instead joined virtually. CEO Sumair Ahmed represented PCB, but reportedly received little support from BCCI, Sri Lanka, or Afghanistan for the ACC meeting scheduled on July 24 in Dhaka. Multiple boards, including India, refused to travel to Dhaka, making it harder to finalize plans for the tournament. Originally, India was supposed to host the Asia Cup this September, but political tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack in April had already cast doubt on the event. Although Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently confirmed India’s willingness to play in multination tournaments with Pakistan, tensions remain high especially after Yuvraj Singh and other veterans refused to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, leading to a cancelled match in Birmingham.
