Key points
- India-Pakistan matches generated $1.3b over the past two decades
- 2015 India-Pakistan WC match alone generated $13-15m in advertising revenue
- In ODIs, Pakistan holds the upper hand with 73 wins
ISLAMABAD: A Champions Trophy or World Cup simply cannot be held if either Pakistan or India refuses to participate.
Their rivalry is the tournament’s biggest spectacle, drawing millions of viewers and driving crucial revenue streams—including broadcasting deals, advertising rates, and the overall budgets of the ICC and member boards.
For this reason, organisers strategically place both teams in the same group in every tournament.
The excitement surrounding an India-Pakistan clash is unparalleled, making it the most anticipated and financially significant game in global cricket.
Broadcasting rights and revenue
- Star India reportedly secured exclusive broadcasting rights for India-Pakistan matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (2023-2027) for a staggering $3 billion.
- The 2023 Asia Cup, held in Sri Lanka, saw broadcasting rights for India-Pakistan matches sold for an estimated $100 million.
Advertising and sponsorship impact
- According to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), India-Pakistan matches have generated an estimated $1.3 billion over the past two decades.
- The 2015 India-Pakistan World Cup match alone generated $13-15 million in advertising revenue. On HD feeds, the cost ranged between $19,000-$22,000 per 10-second slot.
- During the 2023 Asia Cup, sponsors paid between $30,000-$36,000 per 10-second ad during India-Pakistan matches, reflecting the high commercial demand.
Future revenue projections
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan, is projected to generate over $3.9 billion in revenue. While this includes the entire tournament, India-Pakistan matches are expected to be the primary revenue drivers.
Why is this game in Dubai?
In the last 15 years, India has hosted three ICC tournaments—the 2011 World Cup, the 2016 T20 World Cup, and the 2023 World Cup.
Pakistan participated in all three, yet until 2021, it was never considered as a host for an ICC event. That changed when international cricket returned to the country, leading to Pakistan securing the hosting rights for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
From that moment, the question loomed: Would India travel to Pakistan? If Pakistan played in India in 2023, what justification could India offer for not reciprocating? After months of indecisive meetings overseen by an ineffective ICC, the final verdict was reached—Pakistan was deemed safe for six other teams, but not for India.
The BCCI, backed by the Indian government, refused to send its team, insisting on a neutral venue.
The compromise? India will play all its matches in Dubai, with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh travelling there for their games.
If India qualifies, its semifinal and final will also be held in Dubai.
In return, Pakistan will follow the same arrangement in future tournaments—playing exclusively at a neutral venue and shifting knockout games if needed.
Once seen as a bridge between two nations, cricket no longer serves that purpose.
Today, it is merely a day’s entertainment, overshadowed by politics.
The way both cricket boards negotiated this arrangement, coupled with how young fans from both sides engage in online hostility, reflects the current state of India-Pakistan relations more than anything else.
India vs Pakistan matches through the decades (All Formats)
| 1950s: 10 | 1960s: 5 | 1970s: 10 | 1980s: 55 |
| 1990s: 43 | 2000s: 49 | 2010s: 19 | 2020s: 8 |
PAK vs IND: Head to Head
In ODIs, Pakistan holds the upper hand with 73 wins compared to India’s 57, while five matches have ended without a result.
However, when it comes to the biggest stage—the ODI World Cup—India has completely dominated, winning all eight encounters against their arch-rivals.
The story is different in the Champions Trophy, where Pakistan has a slight edge, winning three of the five clashes, including the iconic 2017 final.
As the two teams prepare for their next showdown, history adds another layer of intrigue to an already high-stakes contest.
One Day Internationals
Total: 135
Pakistan Won: 73
India Won: 57
Drawn: 5
ODI World Cups
Total Matches: 8
Pakistan Won: 0
India Won: 8
Drawn: 0
Champions Trophy Matches
Total Matches: 5
Pakistan Won: 3
India Won: 2
Drawn: 0
Can this be a nail-biter?
On paper, India holds a clear advantage. They entered the 2023 World Cup fully prepared and now have nearly the same squad. While their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is sidelined with an injury, his absence won’t significantly impact their campaign unless the pitches are exceptionally flat.
Their spin attack is in top form, what sets them apart is their efficiency in taking wickets during the middle overs, more than any other team.
Add to that the finishing prowess of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, and they remain a formidable force in the death overs.
However, if they find themselves defending a total under dewy conditions, Bumrah’s absence could be felt.
Pakistan, on the other hand, looks unsettled. Their squad is riddled with uncertainties, lacking a strong middle-order punch and reliable hard-hitters at No 6 and 7.
Their bowling unit has struggled massively, conceding over 100 runs in the last 10 overs in four consecutive matches. Against a full-strength New Zealand side, they have failed to both defend and chase totals.
Moreover, their inability to take wickets in the middle overs remains a major concern.
The batting order shuffle after Saim Ayub’s injury and Abdullah Shafiq’s exclusion has only added to the instability.
In the last game, when Fakhar Zaman could not open for the team, Pakistan’s top three collectively managed just 22 runs while chasing 320. Now, with Fakhar ruled out of the Champions Trophy, Imam-ul-Haq has been brought into the squad.
The selection dilemma looms—will Pakistan opt for a safer approach by opening with both Imam and Usman, pushing Babar to No. 3 and Saud to No 5 while dropping Tayyab? Such a move, however, would raise questions about their earlier insistence on Babar as an opener. Pakistan might, therefore, avoid drastic changes.
Form Guide (Last 5 ODIs)
India: WWWWL
Pakistan: LLWLW
Given Pakistan’s current struggles, an upset against India on Sunday would be nothing short of a shock. For them to pull it off, every player must deliver their absolute best, with conditions also favouring them on the day. Otherwise, India looks set to dominate yet again.
