Partial return of funds withheld from World Cup share

New Zealand Cricket will be $US 500,000 better off after some of the money withheld by the International Cricket Council pending a claim by Global Cricket Corporation was made available today.

The welcome news came from the meeting in Monaco yesterday of the ICC's commercial arm.

New Zealand orginally had $US 2.5 million withheld from its tournament payout for not playing their pool game in Kenya due to security fears.

England, who refused to play in Zimbabwe had $US 3.5 million withheld and it will get $US 1.5 million back.

Sri Lanka which had half a million United States dollars withheld will get all its money back.

The return of cash followed an assessment and what the ICC called "an informed judgment" that the maximum claims against the three countries would not exceed the amounts withheld.

India was in a different position, however, and no monies were returned to it.

The ICC president, Ehsan Mani, said the specific nature of the issues relating to England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka allowed this decision to be made.

"The nature of the claims allowed us to return money to three of our Boards," he said.

"In relation to the Indian Board, it is not possible at this stage to assess the likely maximum claims and all countries made the prudent financial decision to continue to withhold the Indian Board's World Cup distribution at this stage."