ICC relents on Zimbabwe's US$11m payout

ICC relents on Zimbabwe's US$11m payout

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By Nkanyiso Moyo

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) seems to have relented on Zimbabwe Cricket's (ZC) pleas for money and has agreed to pay US$11 million in World Cup appearence fees despite assertions that the union had deliberately falsified its accounts.

Despite that, Zimbabwe remains out of Test cricket and will continue to play four day matches, starting with India A later this month and South Africa A.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed had, in a report leaked to the press last week, recommended that part of the US$11 million due to Zimbabwe be withheld over the dubious accounts.

Although the payout will be made in full, the ICC has ordered an independent forensic audit of ZC finances.

"It is clear that the accounts of ZC have been deliberately falsified to mask various illegal transactions from the auditors and the government of
Zimbabwe,” Speed said in the report.

“The accounts were incorrect and at no stage did ZC draw the attention of the users of these accounts to the unusual transactions. It may not be possible to rely on the authenticity of its balance sheet."

Withholding the payout would have been a major blow to Zimbabwe, who are battling to rebuild a competitive side in a bid to possibly resume Test cricket.

Zimbabwe last week said they would not be able to return to Test cricket in November as initially planned.

The ICC Cricket Council had earlier also recommended that Zimbabwe be kept out of the longer version of the game until they have assembled a stronger side.

ZC spokesman Lovemore Banda also confirmed the developments on Thursday morning.

“We will receive the full payout because the ICC was fully aware of all those issues raised by Speed before meeting,” he said.

The ICC Board meeting took place last week and was attended by ZC chairman Peter Chingoka.
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