ICC Approves $12.82 Million Loan to Support West Indies Cricket Amid Financial Struggles
ICC's Financial Support for West Indies Cricket
During the recent annual meetings held in Edinburgh, Scotland, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made significant decisions regarding its member boards, particularly focusing on financial assistance for West Indies cricket. The ICC announced a loan of USD 12.82 million (approximately ₹122 crore) to Cricket West Indies (CWI). This decision follows the CWI's financial reports, which indicated substantial losses in 2025 and projected similar outcomes for the fiscal year ending in September 2026. The board's financial statements highlighted the necessity for this loan.
According to CWI's audited financial documents, the organization recorded a net loss of $28 million for the year ending September 30, 2025, a stark contrast to the net profit of $23 million reported for the previous year. The forecasts for the next two years suggest a net loss of around $26 million in 2026, followed by an anticipated profit of about $8 million in 2027. This fluctuation reflects the cyclical nature of revenues and expenditures in international cricket. To bridge the projected funding gap, the CWI plans to utilize a combination of loans from the ICC and commercial banking credit facilities. Notably, the CWI reported having no outstanding debts with financial institutions at the time of reporting.
Additional ICC Developments
In addition to the financial support, the ICC has established two new sub-committees. The first is a 'Governance Review Committee,' led by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, which includes Dr. Mohammed Moosajee from Cricket South Africa and Dr. Ros Rivaz, an ICC Independent Director. The second committee focuses on franchise cricket and will be chaired by former Bangladesh cricketer Tanim Iqbal, who is also the current chief of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Other notable members of this committee include Dr. Rudie van Vuuren from Cricket Namibia, Devajit Saikia from BCCI, Richard Gould from the England and Wales Cricket Board, and Todd Greenberg from Cricket Australia. Furthermore, Mauritius has been welcomed as the 111th member of the ICC.