PCB faces crippling loss in Champions Trophy following massive investment in one home game; players bear brunt of consequences

According to a report in The Telegraph, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) invested a total of PKR 18 billion (approximately $58 million) in renovating each of the three venues—Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. This exceeded their initial budget by 50 percent. Furthermore, an additional $40 million was spent on event preparations. Despite these expenses, PCB only recouped $6 million from hosting fees, ticket sales, and sponsorships. As a result, PCB incurred a loss of around $85 million.

Not to forget, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side played only one game at home, against New Zealand at the Gadaffi stadium in Lahore. Their next match, against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, was washed out without even the toss. Two other matches of the remaining eight held in Pakistan also ended in the same way.

Players pay the price

The report further said that the players were made to face the brutal consequences of the 'financial misadventure' as match fees in the national T20 championship have been reduced by 90 per cent and those for reserve player payments by 87.5 per cent. These cricketers, who were once accommodated in five-star hotels, found themselves in budget accommodations while the administrators continued drawing millions of salaries.

Pakistani national daily Dawn reported: "The PCB had recently reduced match fees from ₹40,000 to ₹10,000 without any official announcement…however PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened, rejecting the decision and directing the board's domestic cricket department to reassess the matter. While the PCB has yet to officially disclose the revised amount, sources indicate it has been set at ₹30,000 per match — ₹10,000 less than last year."

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