Cricket’s Revenue Economic Boom: Revenue Streams and the Hong Kong VS Bangladesh

Cricket revenue 2025 is set to break records, with broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and matches like Hong Kong vs Bangladesh driving huge growth.

Cricket today is a truly global sport – over 100 countries play under the ICC’s umbrella. Its fan base is enormous, especially in South Asia, and the commercial market is huge. Industry analysts estimate cricket’s worldwide market at roughly US$3.7–3.8 billion (₹30,000+ crore) by 2024, with forecasts to grow above US$4.2 billion by 2029. India alone accounts for over two-thirds of this revenue (around ₹22,750 crore in 2024). In short, cricket is not only passionately followed but also a multi–billion dollar economy.

Breakdown of Cricket’s Revenue Streams

Cricket’s income comes from several main sources:

• Broadcasting and Media Rights: Selling TV and streaming rights is the biggest cash generator. For example, the ICC’s new media deals (2024–31) total about $3 billion, with roughly $3.0 billion from India’s market alone (Star India/Disney+ Hotstar). In fact, India contributes nearly 75% of ICC’s broadcasting revenue. Beyond ICC events, domestic leagues also raise huge sums (the IPL is valued at ~$5 billion). Broadcasters then package this content worldwide. (At the 2023 World Cup, an ICC report noted over one trillion minutes of TV viewing, reflecting the massive audience reach.)

• Sponsorship and Advertising: Corporations pay to associate their brands with cricket. Sponsors range from global giants (e.g. Coca-Cola, official ICC partner and DP World, title sponsor of the Asia Cup) to domestic brands on team kits. In the current Asia Cup (2025) alone, sponsors include DP World (title sponsor) and a roster of brands like Wonder Cement, Spinny, Hero MotoCorp, Haier, and Groww. National teams have their own sponsors too – for instance, Bangladesh’s kit sponsor is Daraz (e-commerce), while Cricket Hong Kong’s partners include The Caravel Foundation and EPIC Group. Sponsors pay for logo placement, naming rights, and media exposure during matches.

• Ticket Sales (Gates): Revenue from selling tickets to matches can be substantial for big games. High-profile fixtures (India vs Pakistan, World Cup games, T20 finals) often sell out, but ticket income can be uneven. In fact, Asia Cup 2025 saw organizers cut ticket prices to boost sales (slashing standard tickets from 475 to 350 dirhams after slow uptake). Smaller matches or those involving weaker teams (like Hong Kong vs Bangladesh) typically draw fewer spectators, so gate receipts are modest for associate-team games.

• Merchandising: Official merchandise (jerseys, caps, memorabilia) adds to revenue. Fan gear can sell in the millions of units (for example, some IPL franchises sell hundreds of thousands of jerseys per season). While exact global figures are fragmented, cricket merchandise is a growing segment, especially in major markets. (For context, the IPL’s franchise revenues include an estimated ₹30–100 crore per team per season from merchandise sales.)

• Digital and Streaming Platforms: Online and mobile streaming has exploded in cricket. For the 2023 World Cup, ICC reported 16.9 billion video views on digital platforms (social media, apps, web) – a tournament record. Streaming giants in cricket, like Disney+ Hotstar in India, regularly break records (e.g. 59 million peak viewers for the World Cup final). The rise of free streaming options in some markets has further increased viewership. Cricket boards monetize this with digital ads, platform subscriptions, and data deals.

Together, these streams make cricket a high-revenue sport worldwide. As the ICC’s 2024 accounts show, media rights and sponsorships dominate their income. Yet note the imbalance: most commercial gains flow to major cricket boards (especially India’s BCCI) rather than smaller nations.

Cricket Revenue 2025: Key Sources of Income

• Broadcasting Rights: Major revenue comes from TV deals and digital streaming platforms that pay billions for exclusive match coverage.
• Sponsorships & Advertising: Global brands invest heavily in team sponsorships, stadium ads, and jersey branding to reach massive cricket audiences.
• Ticket Sales & Merchandising: Revenue is boosted through live match tickets, fan merchandise, and special edition cricket gear.

The Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Match: A Case Study

In the Asia Cup 2025 (T20 format, Sept 9–28 in UAE), Hong Kong and Bangladesh met in a group game at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium on September 11, 2025. This fixture illustrates how match revenues and sponsorship play out.

• Tournament Sponsors: The ACC (Asian Cricket Council) secured strong backing for Asia Cup 2025. Title sponsor DP World (a logistics firm) and Beyond Developments (luxury real estate) headline the sponsor list. Other sponsors include Wonder Cement, Spinny, Hero MotoCorp, Haier, Vimal Elaichi, Ozone Locks, Hero FinCorp, Havells and Groww. These sponsors pay for branding across the tournament – from stadium hoardings to broadcast mentions – helping fund the event.

• Team Sponsors: Bangladesh’s national team jerseys feature logos of Daraz and other local partners. Hong Kong’s players may carry sponsors like Caravel or EPIC (supporters of Cricket Hong Kong). However, associate teams usually have much smaller sponsorship deals. Playing a high-profile match can raise their visibility – potentially attracting new sponsors – but Hong Kong’s sponsors remain modest compared to Bangladesh’s.

• Broadcasting Rights and Digital Reach: Globally, Asia Cup 2025 rights in major markets (India, Pakistan, UAE, etc.) were largely sold to big broadcasters: Sony Pictures Networks (India) sublicensed to other countries, PTV and Ten Sports in Pakistan, and local channels/streaming in the UAE. While exact fees aren’t public, each broadcaster charged advertisers premium rates during marquee matches. Even a Hong Kong–Bangladesh game is broadcast across Asia and streamed online, extending its reach to millions. ICC data from similar tournaments suggest that media coverage of Asian cricket routinely pulls hundreds of millions of viewers globally.

• Ticket Revenue: For the Hong Kong–Bangladesh match, tickets would have been sold for seating at Zayed Stadium. Prices were set by the ACC and host Emirates Cricket Board. (As noted, even blockbuster games saw price cuts, implying moderate attendance for lesser teams.) Ticket revenue from this game would thus be relatively low – mostly covering stadium costs – unlike an India–Pakistan match which could sell out large sections.

• Prize Money and Awards: Asia Cup 2025’s prize pool is publicly reported. The champion gets about US$300,000 (₹2.6 crore) and the runner-up US$150,000 (₹1.3 crore). In practical terms, Hong Kong and Bangladesh will vie to qualify for the final, but only the top two teams earn that prize money. However, players can also earn individual bonuses: Player of the Series (~₹12.5 lakh) and Player of the Match in Final (~₹4.1 lakh). Since Hong Kong did not reach a final, its team will not share in the top prize – yet simply reaching the Asia Cup secured them a slice of ICC/ACC development funds.

In summary, sponsorship deals and broadcasting rights generate the bulk of revenue around an Asia Cup match like HK vs BD. Ticket sales and merchandising at this specific game are minor in comparison. The prize money is significant but only awarded to finalists, not group-stage losers.

Associate Teams: Financial Impact of Playing Big Nations

When an associate nation like Hong Kong plays a full member (Bangladesh), what is the financial benefit? Directly, the answer is “limited”. Analysis shows full-member boards reap most Asia Cup profits, with associate teams getting only symbolic gains. As one report noted, associate nations may qualify for the Asia Cup (a proud achievement), but “rarely see meaningful…financial growth from the event”. They typically play only a couple of matches and do not share in the large prize pool.

However, there are some indirect and structural benefits:

• ICC/ACC Funding: Qualification to high-profile events often triggers extra funding. The ICC’s revenue distribution (2024–27) allocates 11% ($67.5 million) of central income to all 96 associate members. Although that money isn’t given for each match, when an associate makes a tournament, they can earn performance bonuses or larger grants. For example, ICC provides participation grants and performance incentives at World Cups and qualifiers. Hong Kong’s presence in Asia Cup could qualify it for additional ACC support or future event invitations.

• Sponsorship and Broadcast Exposure: Playing big teams gives exposure. Hong Kong’s match was televised and streamed across Asia; that visibility can help attract sponsors (domestic or regional) who want to associate with such events. Bangladeshi sponsors or ACC partners get their logos on TV when Hong Kong plays, some spillover.

• Experience and Development: While not a direct financial gain, the experience of such matches helps players and the program grow, which in turn can justify and attract more investment. Exposure to big crowds and TV coverage can increase local fan interest in associate cricket.

Still, experts argue that without concerted ICC investment, these one-off games are token gestures. The Asia Cup format itself gives limited games to associates, with no prize money beyond final placements. Many associate boards remain strapped for cash even after big upsets, since they don’t get a share of gate or TV revenues directly.

In short, Hong Kong benefits more in development and visibility than in immediate revenue. The full economic boost of these fixtures largely flows to cricket’s traditional powerhouses.

Prize Money Distribution in Tournaments

 

Cricket tournaments typically distribute prize money by final standings. In Asia Cup 2025, reports indicate:

• Winners (champion): ~US$300,000 (₹2.6 Cr)

• Runners-up: ~US$150,000 (₹1.3 Cr)

• Total Prize Pool: ~₹2.5 Crore (teams only)

• Additional Awards: e.g. Player of Series ~₹12.5 lakh, Final’s best ~₹4.1 lakh.

Crucially, only the top two teams earn prize money, and semi-finalists or group stage teams typically get nothing from the pool (unless ACC provides a separate participation fee). This means Bangladesh and India (in past Asia Cups) pocketed the big prizes, while teams like Hong Kong walk away with only honor and any player awards they might have won.

By contrast, ICC global events sometimes give smaller participation grants to all teams. But for ACC events like Asia Cup, the published prize only rewards finalists. Any financial gain for Hong Kong thus must come through development grants rather than tournament prize.

Why Matches Like Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Matter

Cricket economists and officials note that every match between an associate and full member serves a broader purpose in the ecosystem:

• Cricket Economy Boost: These matches add content to tournaments and give broadcasters more games to sell. Even if Hong Kong vs Bangladesh is not a marquee game, it contributes to the overall package that ACC and broadcasters offer to advertisers. Higher viewership – even modest – helps justify sponsorship spending. In aggregate, more games = more advertising revenue, benefiting the cricket economy as a whole.

• Growth of the Game: Playing full members exposes associates to higher standards. Upsets (even if rare) generate headlines – for example, if Hong Kong had upset Bangladesh, media attention would surge, highlighting the tournament. This can invigorate sponsors and boards to invest in the associate nations, slowly building their market.

• ICC Development Goals: The ICC’s strategic aim is to globalize cricket. Giving associate teams experience against top sides is part of that, even if the current revenue model is skewed. Observers argue for more equitable revenue sharing and structured support – but until then, associate teams benefit in kind (knowledge, publicity) even if direct dollars are limited.

In expert commentary, the Asia Cup is seen largely as a “commercial showpiece” for major boards, yet ACC officials emphasize that including teams like Hong Kong incentivizes cricket growth in those regions. The revenue from big games helps subsidize development programs, at least in theory.

Looking ahead, cricket’s future earnings look strong. Digital technology is expanding the audience (2019–2023 saw Asia’s viewership skyrocket), and new events (T20 leagues, ICC innovations) keep money flowing in. According to industry projections, global cricket revenues could exceed $4.2 billion by 2029. The challenge will be channeling more of that cash to associate nations. If boards and the ICC can adopt fairer revenue-sharing (as urged by analysts), smaller teams like Hong Kong may finally see more than token gains from games against stars.

Ultimately, high-profile matches like Hong Kong vs Bangladesh matter not just for prize money or ticket sales, but for building the sport’s footprint. They showcase cricket in new markets and keep the fanbase growing. As one analyst put it, Asia Cup profits currently go to the big five boards, but sustained success of cricket will depend on nurturing the entire ecosystem – ensuring that even associate nations share in the game’s commercial boom. With global revenue climbing and digital reach expanding, there’s optimism that cricket’s earning potential will continue rising for all participants, big and small.

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According to a recent Moneycontrol article on the Asia Cup 2025 sponsors — including DP World, Hero MotoCorp, and Groww — cricket’s commercial value continues to rise with big brand investments.

Read more on Moneycontrol
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The ICC’s 2023/24 Annual Report also shows how media rights, especially large deals in the Indian market, are a major driver of overall revenue.

ICC Annual Report 2023/24 (PDF)
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