BCB issues an official statement on ODI World Cup 2023 prize money delay accusations

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has fiercely reacted to the claims of a delay in awarding prize money from the 2023 ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup to the national players. Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hosted the ODI World Cup last year, and Australia won the title.

Well, the controversy erupted after Debabrata Paul, a BCB councilor and general secretary of the Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh, publicly criticized the board for not yet disbursing the funds to the Bangladesh cricket team players.

BCB denies ODI World Cup 2023 prize money delay, blasts councilor's claims as baseless

The BCB has rejected the claims by asserting that the delay is not due to any intentional lapse or negligence. According to the BCB, prize money for major ICC events like the World Cup usually arrives within a few months of the tournament’s end.

However, the BCB has faced unexpected delays due to complex taxation and compliance procedures, and that’s why they couldn’t disburse the prize money to the players despite the ODI World Cup concluding in November 2023.

The BCB said in an official statement: “The BCB would like to clarify that the delay is not deliberate or due to any negligence on the part of the Board. Prize money for major International Cricket Council (ICC) events, such as the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, is typically received within a few months following the tournament's conclusion.”

To address these issues, the BCB hired the services of Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP, an international accounting firm in India, to accelerate the process. The firm has been working on the necessary formalities to ensure that the prize money reaches the players without further delay.

Prize money is expected to be credited within a few weeks: BCB

The BCB said that they are expecting the funds to be credited soon, as the final steps have recently been completed. BCB added, “Due to taxation formalities and compliance issues, the disbursement process has encountered delays. These are administrative hurdles that have impacted not only the BCB but also other participating countries.

We have been informed that these formalities have only recently been completed and that the prize money is expected to be credited to the BCB in the coming weeks.”

Furthermore, the BCB has strongly rejected the allegations made by Paul, describing them as groundless and damaging to the integrity of the board’s operations. The board also condemned the claims as baseless, saying such accusations undermine their credibility and commitment to the game.

The statement further reads, “The BCB strongly refutes the untrue remarks made by the concerned councilor and vehemently protests the insinuations of malpractice against the Board and its officials on this matter. Such allegations are baseless and undermine the integrity of the BCB's operations.”

Notably, the Bangladesh cricket team is currently in Pakistan, preparing for the upcoming two-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25. The two-match Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is set to kick off on August 21 in Rawalpindi.