As the cricket fraternity awaits a decision on the hosting of the Champions Trophy and the International Cricket Council (ICC) mulls a meeting of board members to take a general overall view on the matter, what lies central to the plot is a note that was written by the broadcaster to the governing body a couple of months ago.
Star India had written to the ICC some time ago — when the Champions Trophy first became a subject of discussion. The broadcaster’s note laid down the numbers that will be at stake where the tournament is concerned and how they’ll continue to sway as long as there’s ambiguity about where it is being hosted.
If PCB doesn’t accept hybrid model, Champions Trophy could be played outside of PAK, without PAK
For the first time in history, the ICC — when selling their media rights for a period of four years — had decided to sell the India market separately. In wake of that decision, the ICC earned 90% of their global share from the Indian market alone.
Basis that, the broadcaster has conveyed to the ICC that while the final decision on Champions Trophy rests with the members, there are some aspects that need to be looked into.
Here’s a gist of what the broadcaster has conveyed:
- Value of Champions Trophy media rights: US$750m
- Total number of matches: 15
- Should India pull out, ICC members will have to forgo 90% of the US$750m.
- Should Pakistan pull out, members will have to forgo a negligible percentage (less than 10%).
So, if it’s a stand-off between boards and there’s a threat of a pull-out, these are the numbers for the boards to consider.
That aside, industry sources say: “The ICC is well within its rights to shift the tournament to any country as long as it is in the best interests of the property (read: Champions Trophy). The decision is not so complicated as it is being made to look”.
At the ICC board meeting, if it comes down to seeking a vote from the members to decide on the tournament, the above numbers will come into play.
“There is no question of the tournament getting cancelled. As for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying they will do a quid-pro with India when the Asia Cup arrives, let’s be clear that the current topic is an ICC matter. The Asia Cup is for the Asian Cricket Council to decide. Neither is the federation the same, nor the broadcaster and it’s a completely separate issue for PCB to think about,” sources add.
There is also a likelihood, say those in the know, that BCCI may not be willing to accept UAE as a neutral venue and may have other suggestions. “We’ll talk about it when we get there,” says an ICC member board representative.