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Pakistan’s boycott of the high-stakes India clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 could lead to substantial losses for Indian broadcasters and disrupt the global cricket landscape.
A day earlier, the government of Pakistan approved the men’s cricket team’s participation in the T20 World Cup after weeks of uncertainty, but instructed them not to take the field against India on 15 February.
The decision has sent shockwaves globally, with broadcasters the first to be directly affected by the forfeiture.
According to a report by NDTV, the overall commercial worth of a single India-Pakistan T20 fixture is estimated at around $500 millions (approximately Rs 450 billion), encompassing broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, tickets, and related commercial activities.
The report further states that advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 match are priced at around Rs 2.5 million and Rs 4 million for a 10-second spot, which is higher than for knockout fixtures featuring India against other top teams.
One of the major sufferings would be borne by the official broadcast rights holder, with advertising revenue from India and Pakistan alone projected at Rs 3 billion, the report cites.
Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to incur an immediate loss of approximately Rs 2 billion.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif has highlighted the rationale for not playing India and how the decision could affect finances.
“Whether it is in India or Pakistan, 60–70 percent of people watch the World Cup because of India-Pakistan matches,” he said during an exclusive interview with Times of India.
“When a market of this size is shaken, the impact is not limited to one broadcaster,” Latif added. “India is affected, the BCCI is affected, and ultimately the ICC is also affected.”
He further noted that the decision will also impact Australia and England.
“Now that Pakistan has joined, it will impact Australia and England financially as well,” he concluded.
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