IPL cancellation could incur 4000 cr loss for BCCI, reveals Arun Dhumal

In the time of global crisis, if there is one board that can claim to be on a safer side, it has to be BCCI even though their biggest money-making machine Indian Premier League is all but cancelled. The fact that the board have kept their money in fixed deposits unlike their Aussie counterparts who put the money into the equity market, it is a safe position for them but the money that comes from the IPL is huge and the loss is inevitable. As per a rough estimate, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal stated that the board may suffer a loss around 4000 Cr.

“We'll be able to assess it once we know when we're going to start [the cricket]. As of now, every bilateral that we miss, we'll be losing money. And if we're not able to organise IPL then that'll lead to a big hit. Not having an IPL would end up with a revenue loss of about INR 4000 crore,” Dhumal told Cricbuzz.

“Priority for BCCI is health and safety of the cricketers, nothing else. Once there is an opportunity available, there is a window, we'd like to organise it . There is an 8-year FTP that has already been chalked out by the ICC that is there till 2023. Now every cricket board will be struggling because of the virus. Everybody needs to sit across a table and work out their strategies on how to bring cricket back and how to make up for their losses because all of the boards are going to be suffering these losses and it would affect everyone, and it would impact everyone, all the stakeholders. Once the cricket resumes, we'll talk it out with all the boards and help each other and revive world cricket.”

While the ICC is working on a contingency plan to host the 2020 T20 World Cup, it might see a resistance for bigger boards simply because of the fact that everyone is at a loss. Cricket Australia, the host for the mega event this year, also seems to prioritise the India series due to the massive broadcast revenue it has the potential to generate. Dhumal stated that it is imperative for the boards to look at their own benefits now. 

“The bi-lateral series adds more money to any cricket board. That is why priority is everyone comes on board and finds out what is best. If individual cricket boards survive then only ICC survives, isn't it? It's not that ICC on its own can survive and feed all the cricket boards. If all of us are back to our feet, then only we'll be able to help each other. I think that'll be the endeavour of everyone associated with the game, that to revive world cricket it is very important that all the boards are in a healthy financial position.”