ICC meetings conclude: Prize money for top-ranked Test sides upped by 41%

BCB to host next year’s U19 Cricket World Cup despite security concerns

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board approved an increased allocation of $65 million as prize money for the top-ranked Test sides and for men’s and women’s ICC events during the period 2016-2023 after the conclusion of the final round of meetings at the ICC headquarters on Tuesday in Dubai.

This represents a 41% increase in the total prize money paid to players compared to the previous eight-year cycle.

In a decision to better reward the best performing Test teams, the board has doubled the prize money for sides that top the ICC Test Championship table each year at the April 1 cut-off date. As a result, the number-one ranked Test team on April 1, 2016 will receive $1 million, up from $500,000 in 2015.

Read: Younis becomes Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Test cricket

The board also recognised the improved standard and professionalism in women’s cricket by approving a five-fold increase in the prize money allocated to the six ICC women’s events to be played from 2016-2023.

The women will compete for total prize money of $4.4 million during the period, including a prize money pool of $1 million for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017.

In line with the ICC’s new strategy which aims to assist the development of more competitive teams in international cricket, the board approved that direct funding available to the Associate and Affiliate Members will increase from $125 million in the previous cycle to $208 million for the period from 2016-2023.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will host next year’s ICC U19 Cricket World Cup from January 22 to February 14 despite security concerns.

The ICC also complimented its umpires who recorded a best-ever correct decision-making percentage of 95.2% (before DRS) in all international matches since the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in February and March.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2015.

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