Cricket has transitioned from a time-honored game into a multinational enterprise. Today, cricket is raking in billions of dollars in broadcasting deals and players are exercising their global brand.
Top players are now wholly recognized globally for their contributions to the game and many of those players are now using their elite talent to cash in for millions of dollars alongside their intended match fees.
Global cricket boards have rapidly transformed from simple governing bodies of cricket into billion-dollar entities in managing the franchise rights for their nations, media rights across the globe, and international tournaments.
In this article, we will explore the top 10 richest cricket board in the world based on revenue, global footprints, influence, impact, and brand.
The richest cricket board in the world is the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is a body that governs all cricket-related functions in India and represents them at the international level. The BCCI has a net worth of $2.2 billion. With this net worth, they are significantly richer than other cricket bodies in the world.
The table below provides a quick view of the richest cricket boards in the world and their revenues.
Have a look.
| Cricket Board | Member Since | Revenue (USD) |
| Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) | 31-May-1926 | 2.2 billion |
| Cricket Australia (CA) | 15-Jun-1909 | 79 million |
| England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) | 15-Jun-1909 | 59 million |
| Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) | 28-Jul-1952 | 55 million |
| Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) | 26-Jun-2000 | 51 million |
| Cricket South Africa (CSA) | 15-Jun-1909 | 47 million |
| Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) | 06-Jul-1992 | 38 million |
| Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) | 21-Jul-1981 | 20 million |
| West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) | 31-May-1926 | 15 million |
| New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) | 31-May-1926 | 9 million |
Now let’s take a closer look at the world’s richest cricket board.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest cricket board in the world and sits comfortably at the top with a big margin from the rest. The popularity of cricket in India is the primary reason for this unparalleled wealth. In India, cricket is not just a sport, it is a religion.
BCCI receives a large portion of the ICC’s yearly revenue. Most of the revenue for BCCI is generated by the Indian Premier League (IPL). IPL generates massive revenue from sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and ticket sales. The estimated revenue of the BCCI is about $2.2 billion.
BCCI shares this revenue with its players and improves the infrastructure of cricket in the country. Even the richest cricketer in the world, Sachin Tendulkar, is from India. He has a net worth of $170 million.
At number two we have Cricket Australia (CA). They are the second-richest cricket board in the world. They have great financial strength and rake in $79 million in revenue. CA plays a key role in developing and promoting cricket in the Australian region.
The CA revenue comes from domestic T20 competition, Big Bash League (BBL), and broadcasting rights for the international matches. Along with IPL, BBL is also a popular cricket league in the world that contributes significantly to CA’s revenue.
At number three we have the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on this list. The ECB is one of the founding bodies of cricket in the world. They are inventors of cricket in the early 1600s. As of now, ECB has a good revenue of $59 million – which reflects its dedication to the sport’s growth and development.
ECB has been a key player in shaping the future of cricket in the country and worldwide. The revenue of England comes primarily from the broadcasting rights for international matches and domestic competitions. They’ve introduced a new The Hundred tournament, which has attracted a lot of eyeballs and significant viewership.
Although PCB doesn’t have a head start when it comes to affiliation, they are the fourth richest board of cricket. Pakistan Cricket Board has a revenue of $55 million. They’ve made a significant jump in recent years because of the popularity of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The majority of the revenue comes from the PSL, which has gained popularity since its inception in 2016. The board also earns significant chunks from international tours and sponsorship deals.
Despite being a small nation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has an impressive revenue of $51 million. It is ranked fifth among the world’s richest cricket boards. The popularity of cricket in Bangladesh has grown significantly in recent years and they have capitalized on that.
The domestic T20 tournament, Bangladesh Premier League, is one of the key revenue contributors for BCB. The tournament attracts significant viewership and sponsorships.
At number six in the richest cricket board list, we have Cricket South Africa (CSA). They have an estimated revenue of $47 million. The country has a rich history of cricket, however, faced many challenges due to political sanctions.
However, CSA rebuilt its organization after joining the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1991 after the abolishment of apartheid. The revenue for CSA comes from ticket sales and international series.
Number seven in the list of the top 10 richest cricket boards in the world is occupied by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). They earn around $38 million annually. It is a good number despite facing numerous challenges in recent years. They have maintained their presence in international cricket despite economic hardships.
ZCB has a broadcasting deal in place for the home series and also the participation fees from various ICC events. ZCB also has some sponsor deals as well.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) is eighth on this list of the top 10 Richest Cricket Boards. SLC earns approximately $20 million a year. Since their induction into the ICC, they have been one of the most formidable teams in the world. However, SLC has faced many challenges in recent years due to management issues and inconsistent performance.
The primary source of income for SLC is the broadcasting deal and they also earn enough through ticket sales. In recent years, they’ve also started the Lanka Premier League to change the local cricket infrastructure.
The ninth richest cricket board is the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). They have a valuation of $15 million. Historically, West Indies have been one of the most successful teams in the world but they’ve lost their way in recent years. However, Brian Lara, one of the richest cricketers in the world, comes from WICB.
The primary source of their income is the broadcasting deal for the international matches. However, their domestic tournament, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has picked up and is doing quite well. It has become a significant event in the cricket calendar and top players from all cricket-playing nations come to play in the league.
Last but not the least is the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) with $9 million in revenue. New Zealand is a small nation with just above five million population. However, they are one of the most competitive teams in the world of cricket. They earn their money from broadcasting rights and the domestic league. They have been doing a Super Smash T20 league since 2005, long before the IPL started.
The richest cricket boards in the world generate revenue from multiple sources. Here is the list of streams that generate revenue for the richest board of cricket.
Cricket has become a money-making machine. It was once a sport associated with honor and prestige, but cricket is now about branding, being smart about money, and how much you can capitalize on the market. Players such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli represent the new breed of sports entrepreneurs who successfully capitalized on their fame. Sachin Tendulkar is the richest cricketer in the world.
On the governance side, richest cricket board in the world such as the BCCI and ECB have evolved into well-oiled commercial money-making machines. These boards are now shaping the future of cricket.
Whether you’re an aspiring player or a curious fan, the cricket world is much more than just runs and wickets.
Ans: Yes, the BCCI is significantly richer than the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Ans: BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world and has a net worth of $2.25 billion.
Ans: The Board of Control for Cricket in India is the richest cricket board in the world.
Ans: There is no simple answer to this, but their substantial wealth comes from the popularity of cricket in India. The IPL is also partly responsible for the rise of the BCCI.
