The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to reap substantial financial gains during the upcoming five-year cycle from 2023 to 2027, with estimated earnings surpassing $1.15 billion (Rs 9 billion) from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) share of annual revenue. Although not yet official, an influential ICC member disclosed that it is only a matter of time before the BCCI officially receives 38.50 percent of the ICC’s annual revenue, amounting to $231 million for the world’s wealthiest cricket board.
The proposed model for revenue distribution is based on cricket rankings, performance in ICC events, and commercial contributions to the sport. Given India’s significant contribution to the commercial element, the BCCI stands to benefit considerably. According to a list published by ESPN Cricinfo, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are the second-largest beneficiaries, earning $41.33 million annually (6.89 percent), while Australia lags behind at $37.53 million (6.25 percent) in third place. The Pakistan Cricket Board ranks fourth with $34.51 million in revenue (5.75 percent).During the previous FTP cycle (2018-2022), the ICC’s annual revenue was approximately $307 million, resulting in $405 million for the BCCI over five years.
The BCCI’s share was negotiated through discussions between the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and the then ICC chairman Shashank Manohar. However, the upcoming cycle could see the BCCI doubling its annual ICC revenue to nearly three times the previous amount, with Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, heading the ICC’s influential Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) division.In the proposed model, the ICC intends to allocate around 11 percent of its revenue to all associate nations, a decrease from the previous allocation of 14 percent. The BCCI’s increased representation within the ICC’s F&CA positions is expected to facilitate these changes.