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ICC set to freeze WC payments
Greg Buckle |
October 31, 2003 12:03 IST
The International Cricket Council (ICC) plans to freeze payments of millions of dollars to the teams that competed at this year's World Cup in southern Africa.Despite making massive profits from the hugely successful tournament, cricket's world governing body will refuse to pay the 14 competing nations their share.
A source told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the ICC board, which is currently meeting in the West Indies, would confirm on Saturday that it was holding back the payments.
"All the World Cup countries currently have money withheld," the source said by telephone from the West Indies.
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The source said the sport's governing body had frozen the payments because the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), the ICC's commercial partner for the World Cup, was demanding $47 million to compensate players for loss of earnings during the tournament.
The dispute with the GCC could take up to two years to resolve, the source added.
The council would consider paying the teams before then but only if they agree to repay the money if the ICC is forced to pay the compensation claim.
"If the auditors believe the ICC should give some money back they may be able to access it, but only if the council get the bank guarantee they want," the source said.
"The ICC are deciding a) should they release any money, b) if they should release any money, exactly how much, and c) before they release any money, any country effectively needs to give a bank guarantee they'll cover the liability that might arise if things go wrong concerning the body's dispute with the GCC.
The ICC is also withholding money from New Zealand and England for boycotting matches. The Kiwis refused to travel to Kenya and England pulled out of a match in Zimbabwe, both citing security fears.
Beaten finalists India have been leading calls for the ICC to pay the teams now, asking for $6.5 million, but the source said their demands would not be met.
"They are saying strict conditions need to be met before any money would be returned to the World Cup countries," the source said.
"India have come to the table banging their fist saying they want their money back. India are making the most noise and the ICC have said no."