Cricket West Indies repays ECB loan as ICC clears dues

Those who declared England and Wales Cricket Board had bribed Cricket West Indies in the garb of a multi-million dollar loan should finally get their facts right.

The Caribbean cricket board has repaid the $3 million debt to the ECB.

CWI Chief Executive Johnny Grave has confirmed to Guardian Media Sports that loan obtained in May to clear players’ dues has been repaid to the ECB after receipt of  $7 million dues from the International Cricket Council.

“We have received our US $7 mn from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as our normal revenue share which each board member gets and the ECB has been paid off,” Grave had reportedly confirmed.

A section of media had then reported the financial support was extended as deal for the West Indies cricket team’s tour of England and seek the CWI support for the ECB chief Colin Graves in the election for the ICC Independent Chair. It had caused controversy for the CWI and president Ricky Skerritt.

Colin Graves is the frontrunner as the ICC has initiated the process to replace incumbent Chair Shashank Manohar, who had relinquished his officer earlier this month.

The loan amount of $ 3 mn was reportedly paid to the ECB directly by the ICC and the balance $ 4 mn was transferred to the CWI account.

Skerritt has denied that the loan ensured CWI’s backing for Colin Graves. He mentioned that the loan was a helping hand given to CWI because of their financial situation that further worsened due to  the COVID-19 situation.

He said the issue was blown up for political purposes only, mostly by mischievous persons who have little genuine care for the wellbeing of cricket.

Skerritt, who became West Indies president in 2019 replacing Dave Cameron said the only pre-condition set for the tour was for the safety and security of his players and once that was assured, the tour went ahead as it was part of the ICC FTP agreement and the World Test Championship.

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