ICC's headquarters likely to shift to Dubai

After being based at Lord's for 95 years, the ICC is likely to shift its base to Dubai in April 2005. According to London's Daily Telegraph, the ICC's board voted on the matter after the UK government failed to grant the tax concessions that the ICC had requested. The move was passed by a 11-1 margin, with one abstention.

The newspaper reported that all ten Test-playing countries voted for the change, while among the three associate members on the ICC board, Kenya voted in favour, Israel abstained, and Malaysia voted for a move to Kuala Lumpur, its own capital. The newspaper also reported that the vote took place three weeks ago, but the ICC hadn't yet come out with a statement to that effect as negotiations are still underway with Dubai. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were the other options for the ICC.

The ICC has an income of around £100 million and, under UK law as it stands, that means it is liable to pay tax on this at standard UK rates. In June the government, via UK Sport, said it would offer concessions in a bid to persuade the ICC to stay put. However, the move to grant the ICC special tax status came in for opposition from some cabinet ministers, and UK Sport later indicated that the move could not happen.

The ICC's financial arm is already based in Monte Carlo, where it receives tremendous tax advantages.