ICC to review Champions Trophy 2025 budget following T20 World Cup overspending allegations

Amid allegations of overspending for the recent T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, particularly regarding the costly preparation of a modular stadium in New York, the ICC is gearing up to approve the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

At the ICC's annual conference in Colombo, the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy will be presented to the ICC Board for approval. Ankur Khanna, ICC’s Chief Financial Officer, collaborated with Javed Murtuza, the CFO of the Pakistan Cricket Board, in Lahore to finalize the financial plan for the eight-team tournament.

Before the Board's approval, the budget will be reviewed by the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee (F & CA), chaired by Jay Shah, BCCI's secretary. The F & CA will meet on July 21, a day before the Board meeting, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expected to attend.

The proposed venues for the tournament, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, are Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. However, India's participation is uncertain and hinges on approval from the Indian government, especially given recent terror-related incidents in Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian government previously prevented the team from playing in Pakistan during the Asia Cup, leading to a hybrid model.

Whether a similar arrangement will be needed for the Champions Trophy, possibly involving UAE or Sri Lanka as co-hosts, will be discussed during the meeting. An inspection of the proposed venues in Pakistan is scheduled for September.

The budget discussions come amid allegations of budget overshoots for the T20 World Cup, particularly concerning the pop-up stadium in New York. Pankaj Khimji, an ICC director, has requested a forensic audit of the expenses related to the stadium, which was dismantled after the games.

In other news, the UAE has won the ICC Associate Member Women's Performance of the Year award after an unbeaten run at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Asia Qualifier in Malaysia. Led by Esha Oza, the UAE team defeated strong opponents, including Thailand, to advance to the global qualifier.

"Winning the ICC Associate Member Women's Performance of the Year award is a proud moment for UAE cricket. We have focused on promoting and developing women's cricket, and it’s heartening to see our efforts bearing fruit," said Mubashshir Usmani, the general secretary of Emirates Cricket Board. "We will continue to invest in the development of women's cricket across the country."