ICC tells BCCI to pay up or lose 2023 World Cup hosting rights

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been asked by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to pay USD 23 million (approximately Rs 160 crore) before December 31 or run the risk of losing the rights to host the 2023 World Cup and 2021 Champions Trophy, The Times of India reported.

Reports suggest that official broadcasters of ICC tournaments had deducted the taxes from the payments they made to ICC for broadcasting tournaments. ICC would now like compensation from the BCCI since they did not get a waiver from India's central or state ministry.

The demand by ICC was mentioned in the minutes of ICC's board meeting in Singapore on October. BCCI has 10 days to comply with the demand and if they fail to do so, ICC will look at other options to host the 2021 Champions Trophy and the 2023 World Cup.

BCCI apparently would seek legal recourse should ICC fail to share minutes. "Biting the hand that feeds, eh? Is that what it has come down to? A sports body that has economic value primarily because it feeds on India's commercial stake in the game is telling India that it cannot host a World Cup? And that too with an Indian heading that organisation right now? What a joke," a senior BCCI member was quoted by Times of India as saying.