Several teams from this year’s men’s T20 World Cup have yet to receive full prize money payments, according to the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). Sources close to the situation informed BBC Sport that players from five of the 20 teams that competed in June’s tournament in the United States and Caribbean are still awaiting payment, despite prize money allocations made by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC, which awarded a record £8.8 million in prize money for this year’s expanded tournament, allocates funds to each participating team’s governing body, which is responsible for distributing payments to players. However, the WCA, the sport’s global players’ union, reports that some governing bodies have not fulfilled this responsibility and that, in some cases, they have allegedly engaged in “threatening and intimidatory behavior” towards players who have raised concerns about delayed payments.
“We are extremely concerned with a number of countries who are still yet to pay players their prize money,” said Tom Moffat, WCA’s chief executive. “We appreciate the ICC’s efforts to date in ensuring the players involved are paid in full and are certain the ICC will continue to take all appropriate steps against any boards who do not do so and to enforce their own terms of participation.”
The ICC, aware of the payment discrepancies, is reportedly working alongside national cricket boards in an effort to resolve the delays. While the organization has not publicly commented on the specific countries affected, it has emphasized a commitment to upholding its terms of participation and ensuring fair treatment of players.
The prize structure for this year’s World Cup was the largest in the tournament’s history, reflecting the ICC’s expansion to a 20-team competition. Teams placing between 20th and 13th received £177,000, with an additional £24,500 awarded per match won. Those finishing between ninth and 12th were awarded £195,011, and teams reaching the Super 8 stage took home £301,400. The stakes rose substantially in the final rounds, with semi-finalists receiving £620,500, runners-up £1 million, and the champions an impressive £1.9 million.
The tournament featured teams from 20 nations, including cricket powerhouses like India, South Africa, and England, as well as emerging teams from Nepal, Scotland, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea. The WCA’s reports indicate that player payment issues could affect teams across various competitive levels, though BBC Sport was unable to confirm which teams remain unpaid.
The delays follow broader conversations within the cricket community regarding financial transparency and accountability among national cricket boards. The WCA has expressed concern that, if left unresolved, these issues could undermine the confidence of players and stakeholders in the sport’s governing institutions.
The ICC has not issued a public timeline for when it expects all payments to be completed, but the ongoing discussions with national boards aim to provide resolutions for the affected players. With mounting pressure from both the WCA and international cricket fans, the ICC is expected to increase oversight on financial disbursements, ensuring players receive the earnings they are owed.
