Travelling to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup in the plans for BCCI
India’s visit to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023 will, of course, be subject to the clearance of the government of the time, but right now, it is certainly on the agenda 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 engagements in next year’s multilateral events:Pakistan are scheduled 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 travelling to Pakistan which has been a no-go area since 2008, when India had taken part 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 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. There is always this alternative of hosting the event in the UAE, like this year’s Asia Cup, but the BCCI note seems to be indicating otherwise.
Meanwhile, another AGM note has confirmed a Cricbuzz report about 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 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 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.
(Cricbuzz)
