It will be subject to the clearance of the Government of India as always – BCCI on Pakistan hosting Asia Cup
India’s tour to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023 will be dependent on the clearance of the government at the time, however, it is surely on the plan of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
India’s tour to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023 will be dependent on the clearance of the government at the time; however, it is surely on the plan of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
A BCCI note, circulated among the state associations on Thursday ahead of the October 18 Annual General Meeting (AGM), lists out India’s commitments in next year’s multilateral events:
Major ICC/multi-nation events in 2023
The Indian team will be participating in the following ICC events in 2023
- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa
- ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, South Africa
- Asia Cup, Pakistan
- ICC Cricket World Cup, India
Pakistan is all ready to host the 50-over Asia Cup in the second half of 2023 following which the World Cup will take place in India.
And going by the AGM note, the BCCI seems to be open to traveling to Pakistan which has been a no-go area since 2008, when India participated in an Asia Cup.
When contacted, the BCCI officials were reluctant to take a position but what is of significance is the fact that Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, is the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
“It will be subject to the clearance of the Government of India as always,”
said a BCCI official maintaining the oft-repeated position.
Meanwhile, another AGM note has affirmed a Cricbuzz report about the Government of India’s decision to increase the tax outlay on the World Cup.
“The ICC has now received a 20% (excluding surcharges) tax order for its broadcast revenue for the 2023 event from the tax authorities in India. The BCCI is currently working with the Ministry of Finance, Government of India and have represented against this 20% (excluding surcharges) tax order at the very highest level and are hopeful that a 10% (excluding surcharges) tax order would be forthcoming shortly,”
the note points out. Cricbuzz reported about this on July 9.
The BCCI further states that the increased tax outlay means a higher loss of income for the board as the cost will have to be borne by the BCCI.
“It is to be noted that any tax cost incurred by the ICC for the 2023 event in India will be adjusted with the BCCI’s share of the revenue from the ICC,”
the note says, illustrating the point that.
“The Impact on BCCI’s revenue from the ICC if a 21.84 % withholding tax order is received by ICC is USD 116.47 million.”
The total cost of the 2023 World Cup is USD 533.29 million.
The previous tax order was for 10.29 %, levied on the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup which India hosted, and the liability, to the tune of USD 23.5 million, was adjusted in India’s share of the ICC revenue.
The note confirms,
“The ICC’s broadcast partner was allowed a lower withholding tax of 10.92% for the 2016 event by the relevant department in the Government of India. This 10.92% amounted to nearly USD 23.5 million. This amount of USD 23.5 million was subsequently deducted from BCCI’s share of ICC revenues. This deduction is being legally contested by the BCCI since then.”
India also hosted the 2021 World Cup but the laws did not apply as it was staged in the UAE.
“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 was scheduled to be held in India but was shifted to UAE & Oman in the middle of this year due to Covid 19 pandemic related reasons. The BCCI hosted this event with the Emirates Cricket Board and Oman Cricket. Since the event was held outside of India, the same was not subject to any withholding tax by the Indian tax authorities,”
the note says.
