ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet Thursday approved income tax exemptions for the International Cricket Council (ICC) in connection with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 that commenced with Pakistan-New Zealand opener on Wednesday.
According to the officials of Revenue Division, these exemptions align with international best practices for hosting global sports events.
The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet met under the chairmanship of Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, at the Finance Division, Islamabad on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik; Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain; Chairman FBR; Chairman SECP; Federal Secretaries and senior officers from concerned divisions and ministries.
Under the standardized hosting rights agreement between ICC and Pakistan, no taxes or deductions will be applied to the revenues of ICC, its subsidiaries, officials, associates and non-resident delegates.
However, Pakistani residents, including the Pakistan Cricket Board, will remain subject to income tax on their earnings from the eight-nation tournament. There will be no exemptions from Federal Excise Duty (FED) and Sales Tax, according to the FBR.
The tax exemption will not lead to a revenue loss, as it was a prerequisite for securing the tournament’s hosting rights.
The event features the sport’s top eight sides in the ODI format.
It is the first major international tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 brought a joyous return of international cricket to Pakistan.
The country spent nearly a decade in the wilderness after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players.
Top teams shunned Pakistan after the attack, and it took the Pakistani government and the PCB years to persuade the cricketing nations that it was safe to visit.
Champions Trophy schedule
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy will be played from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and UAE.
19 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, National Stadium, Karachi
20 Feb – Bangladesh v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
21 Feb – Afghanistan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi
22 Feb – Australia v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
23 Feb – Pakistan v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
24 Feb – Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
25 Feb – Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
26 Feb – Afghanistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
27 Feb – Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
28 Feb – Afghanistan v Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
1 Mar – South Africa v England, National Stadium, Karachi
2 Mar – New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
4 Mar – Semi-final 1, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai*
5 Mar – Semi-final 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore**
9 Mar – Final – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore***
* Semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify
**Semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify
*** If India qualify for the final it will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
