In a troubling development, the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) has voiced “serious concern” over reports that several cricket boards have failed to pay full prize money to players who competed in the last men’s T20 World Cup, held earlier this year in the USA and the West Indies.
The WCA, formerly FICA, released a statement yesterday revealing that unpaid prize money was coupled with “threatening and intimidatory behavior” by National Governing Bodies toward player groups in certain instances.
Sources close to ESPNcricinfo indicate that players from five of the 20 participating teams are still awaiting their dues.
“We are extremely concerned with a number of countries still yet to pay players their prize money,” said World Cricketers’ Association chief executive Tom Moffat. “In some cases, players who have stood up for themselves and their teammates have faced intimidation within their cricket boards.”
Moffat expressed confidence that the ICC would continue pushing players to be paid fully and hold boards accountable. “Every player should receive the benefits they’re entitled to in full, and be able to advocate safely for themselves,” he added.
The WCA’s annual general meeting in Singapore this week also included significant new measures to support player welfare. Notably, the board approved the establishment of a Global Player Hardship Fund to support international players facing severe financial challenges without domestic support structures.
Additionally, Heath Mills and former Pakistan captain Sana Mir were reappointed as executive chair and independent director, respectively. Their leadership is expected to strengthen WCA’s efforts to safeguard players’ rights and well-being across the global cricket landscape.
With ICC already facing backlash, the governing body cannot afford to incur more losses which highlights the ongoing Champions Trophy crisis even more.
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