CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2017

BCCI displeased over ICC's allocation of USD 135 million for Champions Trophy

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

The ICC World T20 hosted by BCCI earlier this year included 58 matches © Cricbuzz

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has voiced its displeasure over the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to allocate a budget of USD 135 million as the estimated expenditure for the Champions Trophy slated to be held in the United Kingdom in June 2017.

Whenever any tournament comes under the jurisdiction of the ICC, a certain budget is apportioned to the country that hosts the event. BCCI's office-bearers are said to be puzzled by the three-fold rise in estimated costs for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, consisting of 15 games in contrast to the World Twenty20 held in India which comprised of 58 matches in total (35 men's and 23 women's matches). Earlier this year, USD 45 million was allotted to the BCCI for hosting the ICC World Twenty20 that took place from March 8 to April 3.

The outline of the budget for the tournament was circulated by the governing body to its members for evaluation at the ICC Annual Conference that took place in Edinburgh this year.

Accordingly, the BCCI has addressed its concerns to the ICC expressing their reservations about the budget and the issue is set to be debated during the ICC Chief Executives meeting, scheduled to be held in Dubai in September.

A senior BCCI official, who played a key role in organising the ICC World Cup 2011 and the ICC World T20 2016, told PTI: "It is strange that when the ICC World T20 was held in India, the BCCI organised a tournament of longer duration at 1/3rd cost.

"Even if we take into account that the costs will be more in UK as expenditure will be in GBP (Pounds), but in India there are more overheads, including logistics as you need to take flights from one city to another which is not the case in England.

The establishment of a new office in London which will be handed over to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after the completion of the tournament has also come under scrutiny. "Every member has right to ask as to why all members should pay for office of one member. Looking at the far bigger picture, every penny saved is every penny earned. This money should be used judiciously for development of cricket," the source added.

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