DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the Indian cricket board to submit US$23m before December 31 to compensate for the tax deductions incurred in hosting the World T20 in 2016.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the global cricket governing body, which is headed by former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar, expects the Indian board to compensate them for the tax deductions when India hosted the tournament two years ago and did not get a waiver from the central or state ministry. BCCI has been reminded of this demand, mentioned in the minutes of ICC’s board meeting in Singapore in October.
The BCCI, now governed by a Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, has less than 10 days left to comply with the ICC’s demand. The international body has threatened that should BCCI fail to do the needful, it will deduct that amount from India’s revenue share for current financial year.
The ICC has also threatened that should India fail to comply, the governing body will look at “other options” to host the 2021 Champions Trophy and the 2023 50-over World Cup, which are scheduled to be played in India.
Star TV, the official broadcast rights holder of all ICC tournaments, had deducted all taxes before paying the global body for the World T20 played in 2016, and the latter now wants the BCCI to compensate for it.
The BCCI, in turn, has asked the ICC to share the minutes of any meeting where it is recorded that India had agreed to tax waiver. The BCCI was headed by former president N Srinivasan then and at no point, say those in the know, did the Chennai-based administrator tell the ICC that BCCI would compensate them for tax deductions should they not receive a waiver from the government.
The board, nevertheless, is convinced that should ICC fail to share the minutes, no payment will be made and should the ICC deduct the money from India’s revenue, legal recourse will be sought. The bickering brings to light ICC’s weak tax policies when scheduling tournaments.
