LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday firmly rejected reports circulated by Indian media regarding the financial impact of hosting the Champions Trophy 2025.
In a press conference held in Lahore, Amir Mir, advisor to the PCB chairman, and Javed Murtaza, PCB’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), addressed the rumors suggesting that Pakistan had suffered an $85 million financial loss from the tournament.
“We need to expose the propaganda being spread by the Indian media and anti-Pakistan elements, who are indulging in spreading lies. Unfortunately, some Pakistani media outlets are also reporting these false claims,” said Amir Mir.
Mir emphasized that Pakistan Cricket had actually projected a profit of Rs 3 billion, surpassing the initial estimate of Rs 2 billion. He clarified that the anticipated revenue would come from gate receipts and ground fees, reinforcing that the tournament’s financial outlook was positive.
The PCB officials further explained that the board did not incur any costs for organizing the Champions Trophy 2025. According to them, the International Cricket Council (ICC) covered the full $70 million expenses. “PCB did not contribute financially to the tournament; the ICC handled all the expenses within the $70 million budget, and a comprehensive audit will be conducted later,” Murtaza said.
In a broader context, Amir Mir hailed the Champions Trophy as a resounding success, noting the participation of all major cricketing nations in Pakistan. He added that the PCB had contributed Rs 4 billion in taxes to the government, demonstrating the tournament's positive economic impact on the country.
"The Champions Trophy 2025 was successfully organized, and it brought substantial revenue to Pakistan, increasing the financial reserves of the PCB," Mir stated, countering claims of financial loss. He assured that the tournament had a significant, positive impact both on the sport and the national economy.
