ICC to Scrutinize $20 Million Expense After Sudden Splurge Left Board Members ‘Outraged and Alarmed'

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 was co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies to bring the excitement of cricket to US sp...

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 was co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies to bring the excitement of cricket to US sports fans and the respective cricket-watching diaspora. There was a lot of effort put into featuring cricket matches in the United States, whether it was building the Nassau County Stadium from the ground up or catering to the tastes of American cricket fans. However, it appears that the US leg of the matches generated a stir in the International Cricket Council (ICC) since money was spent and the over-expense prompted dissatisfaction among the council members. More information about the scenario has emerged.

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ICC to take up an investigation after the sudden $20 Million cash flow at the last moment

New York, Dallas and Florida were the host cities for the US leg of matches. But the situation was not as pleasant as it looked like, as an extensive flow of cash reportedly took place at the last minute, which jolted the ICC. ESPN Cricinfo has added more details, as $20 Million was taken out at the last minute, and it left the board members in outrage.

"On the eve of the World Cup, T20 World Cup USA Inc, the US-based entity created by the ICC's commercial arm IBC (ICC Business Corporation) to run the US leg, sent in a request for an additional USD 20 million. This 'outraged and alarmed' a number of board directors, according to a second director, not least the fact that the request was made at the last minute. Why, the director asked, were no red flags raised with the board at any stage before the request?

An aerial view of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium at Eisenhower Park in Long Island, New York | Image: ICC 

According to one official who was involved in the organizing and running of the tournament, however, the $20 million T20 World Cup USA Inc sought was not additional budget, but to support cash flow: 'T20 Inc had to pay people and needed a cash injection as a loan'," the report mentioned.

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The International Cricket Council would not take the matter lightly, given how much money was spent during the T20M World Cup in the United States. The Council must be in disarray at the moment, and they will look to take stern action once the audit is completed. According to prior reports, several ICC officials have already begun resigning ahead of the conference in Sri Lanka, and the International Cricket Council is set to investigate the problem.

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