International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed all its members including Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that they would not be in a position to make a payment due to members, sources told “Daily Mirror” yesterday.
The payment which amounts to US $ eight million (Rs. 1.056 billion) was to be received by SLC before the end of July as Sri Lanka’s due share of the forthcoming ICC World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand early next year. However, sources said that ICC had informed all cricket boards including SLC that they are not in a position to honour the payment due to some issues with their sponsors.
It was not clear if SLC would receive the due payment in full later, as SLC had also been at the receiving end of similar situation after this year’s Asia Cup played in Bangladesh.
SLC had reportedly been budgeted to receive more than US $ four million (Rs. 528 million) from the Asia Cup but had only been paid just US $ 1.5 million (Rs. 198 million) by the Asia Cricket Council (ACC).
“Daily Mirror” could not verify the payment issue as SLC Treasurer Nuski Mohamed who was attending a family function said he was too busy to talk while SLC Chief Executive Ashley de Silva did not answer his phone nor return the call.
SLC Vice President Mohan de Silva and SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said they were completely unaware of it.
If the ICC has in fact held back the payment, it will be a cruel blow to the financially ailing SLC which is reeling under the burden of a heavy debt.
