Pakistan enters the World Cup, but if it takes a tough decision not to play the match against India on February 15, does the ICC really have the power to stop Pakistan’s income of thirty-four and a half million dollars? As serious as this threat seems, in reality its legal and moral foundations are weak.
Pakistan’s position is very clear that criticism cannot be one-sided and if a country refuses to come to Pakistan and play, then Pakistan has the right to take tough decisions for its own honor.
Pakistan’s latest decision in this matter is actually a declaration of war against India’s “chaudrahat” who wants to dominate the world of cricket. When Bangladesh expressed their desire to play the T20 World Cup outside India i.e. Sri Lanka despite security concerns, India stubbornly did not allow them to play outside their country.
Pakistan not only expressed its solidarity with Bangladesh on this occasion but took a bold decision not to play the match on February 15 to expose India’s double standards to make it clear that cricket is not the domain of one country.
Go to the World Cup, we will do what the board says Salman Ali Akha
If we talk in the language of numbers, the total annual income of the ICC is around 408 million dollars. 65 percent of this, or $265 million, comes from the T20 World Cup alone, while the annual share of the ODI World Cup is 35 percent, or $143 million. According to the current ICC revenue model, India gets $230 million, while Pakistan’s share is $34.5 million. The ICC has threatened to freeze this entire part of Pakistan, but is that possible?
Technically, the T20 World Cup accounts for 32.5 percent of the ICC’s four-year revenue cycle. If Pakistan boycotts the biggest match of this mega event, it shakes the commercial value of the entire tournament. If considered, a World Cup non-participation could justify a loss of more than 30% of Pakistan’s annual share, meaning the ICC could demand $44.8 million instead of $34.5 million. But this is only one aspect; Pakistan can have a legal defense that by playing all the remaining matches of the tournament it contributes fully to the promotion and finances of the event, so it would be patently unfair to kill its annual entitlement on the basis of one match.
Pakistan’s participation in the ICC is not a charity but a reward for its brand value. The World Cup loses its appeal without a Pakistan team. If the ICC refuses to withhold funds, Pakistan has the option to stand on its own. Pakistan is a market that can maintain its dignity even without foreign pests. In fact, this boycott of Pakistan is the first big step towards ending India’s monopoly.
This is enough to tell the cricketers of the world that decisions are no longer being made in closed rooms but on an equal footing. It is the voice of Pakistan’s right and makes it clear that there will be no compromise on respect and solidarity with the countries of the region, even if the financial pressure is great.
