Cricket’s Costliest Boycott – Pakistan’s Refusal to Play India Threatens $500m Revenue Pool

Pakistan’s decision to boycott a match against India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has sent major shockwaves in the international cricket circuit. Everyone understands the lucrative financial cost of this match, and if Pakistan forfeits it on the government’s advice, the adverse financial effects will directly hit Indian broadcasters, and could disrupt the global cricket landscape.

As per the recent media report, the overall financial value of India-Pakistan clash is estimated around $500 million, as it includes several lucrative streams such as broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, tickets, and related commercial activities.

Speaking about the value of advertising during the India vs Pakistan match, the report states that ad slots are priced at around Rs 2.5 million to Rs 4 million for a 10-second spot. These are substantial figures, significantly higher than those for knockout fixtures featuring India against other top teams in the tournament.

As per the report, the broadcast rights holder will bear the real consequences of this boycott, because the advertising revenue from the India vs Pakistan clash alone is projected at Rs 3 billion. This is the reason why broadcasters eagerly want this match, as the major chunk of the tournament revenue is generated by this marquee clash.  

Besides the hit on broadcasters, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to take a big loss of Rs 2 billion as well. This defines why the BCCI also wants Pakistan to play with India, despite domestic opposition to the fixture.

Speaking about the viewership of this high-stakes clash, former captain of Pakistan Rashid Latif explained that the majority of the people watch the World Cup because of India and Pakistan, so not having their marquee clash would severely affect the global cricket ecosystem.

“Whether it is in India or Pakistan, 60–70 percent of people watch the World Cup because of India-Pakistan matches. When a market of this size is shaken, the impact is not limited to one broadcaster. India is affected, the BCCI is affected, and ultimately the ICC is also affected.” said Rashid Latif.