Pakistan is on the verge of welcoming foreign sides for the forthcoming Champions Trophy, but in the background, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing a major financial hurdle. The price of developing and overhauling Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi stadiums has risen drastically by more than five billion rupees (about USD 20.4 million).
Originally pegged at 12.3 billion rupees (about Rs 383 crore), the overall expenditure has now jumped to 18 billion rupees (about Rs 561 crore). With the tournament to start from February 19—though India will host all their matches in Dubai—the PCB is looking into financial backup plans to facilitate easy operations.
The Board of Governors (BOG) of the PCB has sanctioned the extra expenses and also authorized the chief financial officer to arrange an overdraft of three to six billion rupees if needed. In a report in Dawn, the CFO told the BOG in a December meeting that, based on the projected financial needs, external financial assistance might be needed in the near future.
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Materials presented at the meeting indicate that in principle, the management has offered to arrange for an external cash overdraft in case of any unexpected financial requirements. Although PCB had reserves amounting to some 26 billion rupees last fiscal year, recent deals, including the disposal of broadcast rights for the period 2024-26 at 1.70 billion rupees, were concluded at less than anticipated prices, affecting the board’s cash position.
Rs 561 Crore And Counting: PCB Overspends On CT 2025 Venues, Claims Report #PakistanCricket #PCB #ChampionsTrophy https://t.co/vzOe3yZmgz
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But the PCB is hopeful to earn significant revenues after this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL). Expanding the league by introducing two new teams has been planned, which will improve income considerably. The board also has decade-long deals with franchises that are set to expire, providing opportunities for renegotiations, which will strengthen PCB’s finances further.
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Albeit the present monetary constraint, PCB has traditionally been a self-supported organization, unreliant upon government subsidies. It has been far less severely afflicted by dire financial crises when compared to a large number of other sporting agencies. The board is optimistic it will be able to overcome the problem and arrange the Champions Trophy with minimal hindrance.
