The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to be on a collision course with financial reality. With the Pakistan government’s latest ruling, which is refusing to allow for their high-profile T20 World Cup 2026 match against India to be played, the cricketing world is alluding to a resurfaced video of former PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja that perfectly sums up how precarious the board’s current plight is.
The “Modi” Factor - Ramiz Raja's Warning
In the viral video the material was taken from a 2021 Senate Standing Committee session — Ramiz Raja made the uncomfortable reality of Pakistan’s cricketing economy clear. The PCB is almost 50% funded from grants by the International Cricket Council (ICC), he added. Importantly, he pointed out the Indian market and business houses account for around 90% of the ICC’s revenue. “Indian business houses are running Pakistan cricket. If tomorrow the Prime Minister of India decides that he will not allow any funding to Pakistan, this cricket board shall collapse,” Raja stressed in the video.
By not playing India on February 15th, 2026, Pakistan isn’t just losing two points; they’re disrupting a fixture valued at a staggering $250 million (about ₹2,200 crore) in worldwide income. As the India-Pakistan game becomes the “cash cow” of every ICC event, broadcasters such as JioStar are reportedly already seeking legal representation in return for renegotiation deals worth billions of dollars. Should the ICC be unable to serve the expected marquee match the financial liability would most likely transfer directly to the PCB.
The Looming Sanctions
Industry insiders believe the ICC, under the direction now of Chairman Jay Shah, might come down hard on what is interpreted as “government interference” in sports—a direct violation of the ICC constitution. Among the things the consequences for Pakistan could be:
- Revenue Withholding: The ICC can freeze Pakistan’s annual share, which is estimated at $35 million (₹316 crore).
- Legal Liability: Broadcast companies could sue the PCB for hundreds of crores in advertising and sponsorship lost.
- Isolation: According to the report, the PCB turned to other member boards for assistance but was left out of the loop, no other country would support a boycott.
Self-Driven: Dependence on the World or Self-Destruction?
The guidance of Ramiz Raja was blunt: Pakistan needs to cut down on its reliance on the ICC and India by 10 percent every year if it wishes to be self-sufficient. But the current management was not able to follow the path of the former, opting for political rhetoric over financial stability. When T20 World Cup 2026 is held, the question is no longer who won on the pitch; it is whether PCB even has a field to play on by year's end.
