• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Setback For Pakistan Before Champions Trophy Pcb Suffers Huge Losses For England Series

Setback For Pakistan Before Champions Trophy; PCB Suffers Huge Losses For England Series

Pakistan cricket is on the verge of a major financial setback (x.com)Pakistan cricket is on the verge of a major financial setback (x.com)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is about to suffer a massive financial setback. As they prepare to host the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan early next year, the PCB recently failed to attract a bid for international media coverage of the national team’s upcoming home Test series against England.

The Pakistan cricket team is currently on course to host serial ‘BazBallers’ England for a series of three Test matches between October 7 and October 28 in Multan and Rawalpindi.

PCB’s international media rights go unsold

As reported by Cricket Pakistan, the PCB demanded $21 million for a three-year deal of international media rights. Companies like Sports Five offered $7.8 million instead, while Willow TV offered $2.25 million. The PCB, in response, rejected the offers above as they did not want to sell the international media rights for such low figures.

Even during PCB’s re-tendering process for international media rights for selective series, they agreed to a joint offer of $99,000 made by two companies. The overall international media rights for the 2024–26 Pakistan cricket season, however, remain unsold. According to reports, the PCB might well be forced to sell the rights at significantly lower prices, which would incur a massive financial setback for the board.

The lack of interest shown by international media companies can be attributed to the Pakistani cricket team's underwhelming performances in the past couple of seasons. The ‘Men in Green’ recently suffered first-round exits in two successive World Cups (2023 and 2024) and failed to defeat Bangladesh in a Test series at home.

Star attraction Babar Azam has also not scored an international century in more than a year, and his below-par performances off late coincide with rumours of his possible captaincy rift with teammate Shaheen Afridi.

The PCB is bracing itself to host the 2025 Champions Trophy next year. Earlier this month, the ICC gave the board a significant boost by approving the tournament’s three designated venues.