ICC to withold millions of dollars

A report from the Reuters news agency claims that the International Cricket Council will announce a decision to freeze payments totalling millions of dollars owed to countries following the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

The ICC, which is meeting in Barbados this week, has apparently taken the decision because Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), the ICC's commercial partner for the tournament, is demanding almost US$50 million as compensation for loss of earnings during the World Cup. "All the World Cup countries currently have money withheld," an anonymous source told the agency.

It is possible that money will be released, but only if countries give a guarantee to the ICC that it would be repaid should the claim by GCC be upheld - and the outcome of that might not be known for up to two years.

"If the auditors believe the ICC should give some money back, they may be able to access it, but only if the ICC get the bank guarantee they want," the source said. "The ICC are deciding - should they release any money, and if they should release any money, exactly how much."

India have led the calls for the ICC to pay the outstanding monies now, but the source said their demands are likely to be rebuked. "They are saying strict conditions need to be met before any money would be returned to the World Cup countries," he told Reuters. "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."

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the ICC is already withholding money from New Zealand and England after their refusal to play group matches in Kenya and Zimbabwe.