The 2025 Champions Trophy marked the first global cricket tournament held in Pakistan in 29 years, a milestone in the country’s cricketing history. However, it turned out to be a financial and logistical disaster for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which suffered an 85 percent loss after investing INR 869 crore for just one completed home game during the tournament.
According to The Telegraph, the PCB spent PKR 18 billion (approximately $58 million) to upgrade three venues Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi 50 percent more than their initial budget. Additionally, $40 million was spent on event preparations. In return, the PCB received only $6 million from the hosting fee, ticket sales, and sponsorships, resulting in a staggering loss of around $85 million.
The Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan team played only one home game during the tournament, against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Their next match, scheduled against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, was abandoned without a toss, and two other matches in Pakistan also ended up being washed out.
The Telegraph report further highlighted that the financial fallout from the tournament had serious consequences for the players. The PCB slashed match fees for the national T20 championship by 90 percent, and reduced payments for reserve players by 87.5 percent. Players, once staying in five-star accommodations, were now relegated to budget hotels, while administrators continued to draw large salaries.
According to Pakistani daily Dawn, “The PCB had recently cut match fees from ₹40,000 to ₹10,000 without any formal announcement. However, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stepped in, overturning the decision and instructing the board’s domestic cricket department to review the matter. Although the PCB has not officially revealed the updated fee, sources suggest it has been set at ₹30,000 per match ₹10,000 lower than last year.”