ICC Board To Review Budget Overruns Of T20 World Cup's US Leg In Colombo Meeting

The United States-leg of the T20 World Cup has reportedly exceeded its budget, prompting the ICC Board to discuss the financial losses during their Annual Conference in Colombo on July 19.

Since the auditing process is incomplete, it is challenging to determine the exact figure of losses. The total amount from gate receipts (ticket sales) is still being calculated. However, some board members believe that the losses could be in the millions.

Despite these concerns, those involved in organising the event are optimistic about significant earnings from ticket sales. This optimism contrasts with the worries of influential ICC members regarding venue choices.

Tournament Director Chris Tetley has resigned, but sources indicate that his decision was made before the tournament began. An ICC board source stated, "Many members aren't happy with Tetley's performance. He had tendered his resignation but it can't be said that USA leg of the T20 World Cup has got anything to do with it."

The source further explained that Tetley decided to quit due to relentless management work associated with multiple ICC global tournaments and all associate nations gaining T20I status.

Venue Selection Issues

The choice of New York City as one of the venues for this major event has upset some influential ICC members. The Nassau County Cricket Stadium's pitch and outfield received significant criticism, which could have been avoided.

"The event was supposed to be held in the USA and there were other cities apart from New York where matches could have been organised. Why wasn't it considered? No practice matches were played to test the strip, which was certainly unsuitable for top flight cricket," a source mentioned.

These issues highlight concerns over planning and execution, raising questions about future venue selections for such high-profile events.

The ICC Board will address these matters during their upcoming meeting, aiming to find solutions and prevent similar issues in future tournaments.