ICC to give ACB $1m preparation fee

KABUL Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the game’s global governing body announced on Sunday.

The windfall is in addition to the $422,000 awarded to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) by the ICC Board in April this year as part of its Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (TAPP).

“In 2014, the top ICC Associate and Affiliate Members – including Afghanistan – will also receive approximately US$750,000 in base support through the ICC Development Funding Policy,” a statement from the governing body said.

ACB Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohammed Noor is confident of receiving funds worth $850,000 from the Afghan government and sponsorship agreements from domestic and international businesses eager to ride the wave of Afghanistan’s success.

“All the money we will receive will allow us to develop the game even more, and it will also allow us to be as ready as we can be for the ICC Cricket World Cup,” said Noor. “We have already begun working on our plans and we are looking at a three-month camp for the players ahead of the tournament.”

ACB coffers may be further swollen in coming months if the team could qualify for 2014’s ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, with the qualifiers for that event in the United Arab Emirates in November.

If Afghanistan, having qualified for the past two World Twenty20 tournaments, could secure a place next year, the ACB will receive an additional $250,000.

The one million dollar preparation grant will go to all four associate and affiliate sides as well as the 10 full members who will participate in the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

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