Cricket: CD still waiting on Champions League cash

Central Districts played in the Twenty20 Champions League last year. Photo / Getty Images

A delay in television rights fees has been blamed for Twenty20 Champions League prize money being left unpaid more than three months after it fell due.

Participating teams at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, including Central Districts, have been assured they will be paid "in the next week or two" by organisers.

Event regulations state that prize money will be paid out as soon as is practical, with all efforts made to deliver the $7.7 million in prize money within 20 business days of the tournament's conclusion.

Central Districts CEO Hugh Henderson confirmed to nzherald.co.nz that they are still waiting on the prize money but it is out of their hands.

"The money gets paid to New Zealand Cricket so they chase all of that on our behalf.

"We're always waiting on it. In terms of cash flow, we're ok. But we'd always rather have the money in the bank."

Henderson would not disclose how much prize money Central are waiting on but it is expected to be around $US200,000 ($NZ258,800).

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that is the amount the Victorian Bushrangers are owed after being eliminatated in the first round of the competition. Central finished last in the same group as Victoria.

Repeated delays moved international players union boss Tim May to express wider frustration about a seeming lack of urgency in delivering the richest prize in cricket.

May even suggested further action may be taken to force the payment if organisers did not deliver as promised.

The T20 Champions League is run jointly by the cricket boards of India, Australia and South Africa.

"Given that the 2010 event concluded in September we are increasingly frustrated and disappointed that the prize money still has not been paid," May said.

"The latest we have heard is that the payment may be made in late January or early February.

"Players are like anyone else in the community, they have financial commitments and families to provide for, and they expect to be paid in a timely manner.

"It's simply unacceptable that three of the most financially affluent cricket boards in the world can seemingly sit on their hands for four months with no apparent sense of obligation to pay this prize money in a timely manner.

"FICA (Federation of International Cricketers' Associations) and other player associations still await definitive confirmation as to when the prize money and participation fees will be paid.

"In the meantime, we will be assessing our various options regarding recovery of these outstanding amounts for the 2010 event should the monies not be received within the next couple of weeks."

While accepting concerns about the money, a Champions League official insisted it would be paid out out soon, and said the delays stemmed from taxation wrangles over money paid out by the television rights holders ESPNStar.

"Because of tax issues in India there hasn't been enough money coming out to pay participation fees and prize money," he said.

"Players unions and teams were advised of the issue either before or during the event last year in terms of money coming through, and we expect it to be paid in the next couple of weeks."

- Herald online/AAP