As Colombo recently hosted the biggest cricket rivalry on Sunday (February 15), the highly anticipated India-Pakistan fixture in the group stages of the T20 WorldCup 2026 has generated massive revenue.
Following India’s triumph by 61 runs over the archrivals, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) former chairman Tauqir Zia made a shocking statement. The retired military officer explained why a big hyped rivalry like IND vs PAK is on the verge of losing its commercial worth.
One week ahead of this high-profile encounter, there were uncertainties over Pakistan’s participation due to strained political relationships with India. Thanks to the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) board and the International Cricket Council (ICC) for making Pakistan reconsider its decision of forfeiture against India.
Before delving into the reason behind Zia’s unexpected remarks, let’s debunk the myths to understand the clear economic logic of the India-Pakistan cricket match in big tournaments.
IND vs PAK Match Commission and Financial Model
Billions of dollars generated from the India-Pakistan matches are collected and managed by the ICC. Let it be Indian, Pakistani, or any individual cricket board, the direct revenue earned from stadium tickets, TV ads, and sponsorships does not belong to them.
The formula here is very SIMPLE! According to the pre-agreed financial model, ICC accumulates the profits from global cricket events and distributes them to 108 member nations annually (based on the revenue-sharing percentage).
Highest Revenue Share For 2024-27 Cycle: BCCI vs PCB
With ICC’s $600 million allocated to its members annually, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) emerges as the clear winner with a share of 38.5%.
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is nowhere near India, getting the fourth-highest revenue share among the 108-cricketing nations. Here is how ICC distributes the revenue to these top four nations’ cricket boards:
| Country | Cricket Board | Percentage | Annual Revenue Share (in USD) |
| INDIA | BCCI | 38.5% | $231 million |
| ENGLAND | ECB | 6.89% | $41.3 million |
| AUSTRALIA | CA | 6.25% | $37.5 million |
| PAKISTAN | PCB | 5.75% | $34.5 million |
JioStar has been the main reason for India’s massive revenue share. The Indian broadcaster paid above $3 billion to acquire the broadcasting rights of ICC matches in India. With 70 to 80% of revenue generated from Indian audiences and sponsors, the global governing body’s overall wealth is enhanced.
As per the distribution model, India is heavily rewarded for generating lucrative profits, particularly during its game against Pakistan.
ICC’s Economic Logic For Annual Payout
Regardless of the huge hype in the India-Pakistan clash, ICC maintains a strict revenue distribution formula. Here is how the nation’s board’s yearly payout is calculated on these four main criteria:
- High Level of Commercial Contribution
- Current Standings and Legacy in Cricket
- Success in ICC Tournaments Over the Past 16 Years
- Membership Status (Full Member / Associate)
India vs Pakistan Match: Key to the ICC Tournaments’ Success?
Whether it is a group stage or knockouts, India-Pakistan matches have been the financial boost of ICC tournaments. When these two Asian rivals face off against each other, the business matters a lot beyond the game’s outcome.
Even though Pakistan gets less commission, it has been the core pillar of the match’s economy.
In one way or another, BCCI and ICC have been reliant on Pakistan’s participation to maintain the integrity and spirit of cricket. This is because of the increased threat of losing a billion-dollar revenue if the national team boycotted its fixture against India.
‘Too Much One-Sided Rivalry’: Tauqir Zia
After India extended its domination to 8-1 against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup rivalry, Tauqir Zia opened up about the one-sided encounter:
‘See! The fact is that the India-Pakistan matches are becoming too one-sided. But, this time, the hype was built up more than ever before because PCB earlier declared a boycott of the fixture against India and then reversed its decision.
But, I am sure that the Indo-Pak games will soon lose their value to the member boards as well as the International Cricket Council.
Moreover, fans have already lost hope of the revival of equal rivalry. Also, the sponsors and advertisers are no longer interested in watching the one-sided clash.
Unless the matches become more competitive and tougher, the commercial value is under threat of getting diminished,” Zia said.
ICC, BCCI, or PCB: Who Wins Financially After the IND vs PAK Match?
Cricket’s multi-billion-dollar global cricket economy is based on a structured revenue-sharing framework controlled by the ICC. So, it is understood that the international governing body emerges as the financial winner, with BCCI and PCB gaining a share of the revenues.
With an estimated commercial value of INR 1,800 crore and INR 2,200 crore (USD 200-250 million approximately), the epic clash between the two Asian heavyweights has always proven to be the most profitable event for the ICC.
Overall, the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 has provided a golden chance for Sri Lanka to prove its credibility to host marquee events and attract visitors globally. This is indeed a healthy sign for the nation’s cricket boards, prompting top-tier sponsors for massive future investments.