ICC Intervenes as Dozens of Cricketers Remain Unpaid from This Year's T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is taking steps to address a controversy surrounding prize money owed to cricketers from some participating countries for this year's Twenty20 World Cup. According to sources, the ICC has initiated talks with several boards that have yet to pay out the promised awards to players.

The issue at hand was highlighted by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), which stated in a statement earlier this week that some national governing bodies had been engaging in "threatening and intimidatory behaviour" towards player groups. CEO Tom Moffat of the WCA expressed concern over these threats, emphasizing the urgent need for swift action to be taken against those boards that fail to meet their commitments.

The ICC has identified five such boards among the 20 participating countries, according to a source close to the negotiations. The governing council is working to ensure timely payment to these players, with the WCA voicing its support for these efforts.

Meanwhile, the World Cricketers' Association (WCA) announced the launch of a Global Player Hardship Fund to support international cricketers who fall through existing domestic frameworks for support. JP Van Wyk, head of welfare and education at the WCA, assured that this fund will extend assistance to players currently facing financial difficulties or living beyond the realms of mainstream support.

This move by the ICC and the WCA underscores the growing concern over player welfare in the sport, leading many advocates to advocate for better governance and more effective management of issues surrounding prize money.