Why a Pakistan–India Match Is Worth $500 Million in the T20 World Cup

Following Pakistan’s announcement that it will not play against India in the T20 World Cup, a wave of unrest has spread across India and the global cricketing world. The primary reason behind this reaction is the massive revenue generated by a Pakistan-India clash.

In modern cricket, some matches are bigger than entire tournaments, and in the T20 World Cup, a Pakistan vs India match is not just another game—it is the most significant fixture of the event.

According to reports, Pakistan’s decision not to play India has caused uproar in India because the match is estimated to be worth around $500 million (approximately PKR 140 billion). This value includes broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, ticket sales, and even legal betting, along with other commercial activities.

This single match brings life to the entire tournament. Broadcasters purchase rights at extremely high prices, and the ICC uses this revenue to financially support boards that are otherwise unable to generate such income.

For broadcasters, the Pakistan-India match is considered a “golden goose.” During this match, the cost of a 10-second advertisement ranges from 2.5 to 4 million Indian rupees (approximately 7.6 to 12.2 million Pakistani rupees), which makes matches against other major teams appear far less valuable. The absence of this match could completely alter the tournament’s financial structure.

According to Indian media, the first to suffer losses from the cancellation would be the rights holders. It is estimated that around 3 billion Indian rupees (approximately PKR 9.2 billion) are earned from advertisements alone during a Pakistan-India match.

In the event of losses, broadcasters seek compensation from the ICC. This would not only result in reduced revenue for Pakistan and India but would also create serious financial difficulties for the ICC in making payments to other Full and Associate member boards.