Mumbai: As the International Cricket Council (ICC) convenes for its annual meeting in Sri Lanka, officials are poised to review and approve the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
This is a key item on the agenda, especially against the backdrop of recent controversies over budget overruns and excessive spending linked to the Twenty20 World Cup held in the US and the West Indies.
High costs associated with constructing a modular stadium in New York have led to allegations and reportedly the resignation of two senior ICC officials.
According to Cricbuzz, Ankur Khanna, the ICC’s Chief Financial Officer, has collaborated with Javed Murtuza, the CFO of the Pakistan Cricket Board, to finalize the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who also chairs the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, is set to review the budget.
The committee will convene on July 21, one day before the ICC Board meeting, which PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to attend.
The proposed venues for the Champions Trophy, slated for February 19 to March 9, include Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The Indian team’s participation hinges on the Government of India’s approval.
Recent terror-related incidents in Jammu & Kashmir have cast doubt on this approval. Last year, security concerns prevented the Indian team from participating in the Asia Cup in Pakistan, resulting in a hybrid model for the tournament.
Whether a similar model will be adopted for the Champions Trophy, with the UAE or Sri Lanka as alternative venues, remains to be determined. The ICC plans to inspect the proposed venues in September to finalize the locations.
This budget approval is taking place amidst some members’ indignation over the expenses of the Twenty20 World Cup, particularly the costs related to the New York modular stadium, which was dismantled after the event. Pankaj Khimji, one of the directors, has requested a forensic audit of the expenditures associated with the stadium’s construction.