IND vs PAK : What is the loss if the India-Pakistan match does not happen? Shadow of financial crisis
The cricket match between India and Pakistan is not just a game but is considered the biggest financial brand in world cricket. However, due to Pakistan's refusal to play against India in the upcoming T-20 World Cup 2026, a major financial crisis looms over world cricket. After the Pakistan government announced this through an official social media post, there has been a stir in the cricket world. The match between India and Pakistan in the T-20 World Cup 2026 was scheduled to take place on February 15 in Colombo. However, the Pakistan government has decided to boycott the match against India. It has been clarified that the Pakistan team will participate in the entire tournament but will not take the field against India. This decision is expected to result in an estimated loss of 4500 crore rupees.
The India-Pakistan match is the most-watched match in any World Cup. This single match brings immense financial benefits to the ICC, media organizations, sponsors, and the respective cricket boards. If this match is not played in the 2026 T-20 World Cup, it could have a significant impact on the financial calculations of the entire tournament.
According to media reports, the estimated economic value of the India-Pakistan match in the T-20 World Cup is approximately 500 million US dollars, which is nearly 4500 crore rupees. This amount includes TV and digital broadcasting rights, premium advertisements, sponsorship from major companies, ticket sales, and revenue from legal betting. No other match in the world can match this earning.
Revenue from advertisements is particularly the highest. In the India-Pakistan match, approximately 3 billion rupees are transacted solely through advertisements. For a 10-second advertisement in this match, one has to pay 2.5 to 4 million rupees, which is considered the most expensive ad slot in the competition. If the match is canceled, the media will suffer a major blow. According to media reports, this decision could result in a direct loss of nearly 2 billion rupees for both teams combined. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also likely to face a significant financial hit due to this decision. The ICC gives PCB approximately 5.75 percent of the total revenue. This amounts to about 34.51 million dollars, which is nearly 3.16 billion rupees. If the match against India does not take place, this amount could be at risk.
Additionally, tickets for the India-Pakistan match are more expensive compared to other matches, and a large number of spectators attend. If the match is canceled, there is a possibility that the spectators who purchased tickets will have to be refunded. Meanwhile, there is talk that the ICC may take strict action against Pakistan for the decision not to play against India. It is speculated that the ICC may make a decision on this matter within the next 48 hours.