The International Cricket Council (ICC) is in talks with several boards that are yet to pay prize money from this year’s Twenty20 World Cup to players, sources told Reuters on Thursday.
India beat South Africa in the final to win the tournament, which was hosted by the United States and the West Indies in June.
The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) said in a statement on Wednesday that some cases of non-payment of prize money were coupled with “threatening and intimidating behaviour” by national governing bodies of player groups.
A source told Reuters that the International Criminal Court had taken up the case with five boards of directors from the 20 participating countries to ensure that players’ wages were paid in a timely manner.
Earlier, WCA chief executive Tom Moffat said the global players’ body was “deeply concerned… about a number of threats made against players defending themselves and teammates in some cricket environments”.
“We appreciate the ICC’s efforts to date to ensure that participating players receive their full wages and we are confident that the ICC will continue to take all appropriate steps against any boards that do not do so and enforce the terms of their participation,” Moffat said in a statement. statement.
“Every player in our sport should receive the full benefits to which they are entitled, and should be provided with a safe environment in which to play, work and defend themselves and their teammates off the field, through the players’ union if they so choose.”
The WCA issued the statement after the board met this week in Singapore for its annual general meeting, where they also launched the Global Player Hardship Fund.
The fund was set up to support international players in need “who are not covered by the game’s current domestic support frameworks”.
“We are sure it will help current and recently retired international cricketers who are currently unsupported and vulnerable,” said JP van Wyk, Head of Social Welfare and Education at WCA.