The ICC Knock Out tournament held in Kenya during October generated a net profit of US $13 million. Gross income for the event amounted to US $18 million, mainly from the sale of TV and advertising rights.

The profit has been allocated to fund the next two years of the ICC development program, which promotes all aspects of cricket in non-Test playing countries around the world. The five development regions to benefit are Asia, Africa, the Americas, East Asia Pacific and Europe.

The figure represents a doubling of the development budget from the 2000/2001 level of US$3.2 million.

‘Global development of the game is a major priority for the ICC and this funding will be used to provide essential infrastructure, coaching and equipment and also for the staging of tournaments,’ said ICC chief executive David Richards.

The 2002 Under 19 World Cup will be one such tournament funded by the development budget.

The total investment of US $13 million will cover the ICC’s 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 financial years, which run from 1st April to 31st March.

The ICC development program began in March 1998 and has a long term aim of increasing both the quantity and quality of player participation on a global basis. Since its inception Bangladesh and Kenya have attained One Day International status, with Bangladesh going on to become the 10th Test playing country.

Eleven new countries have achieved ICC Affiliate status over the past two years: Cook Islands, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Morocco, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa and Tonga.

For more details contact:

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7266 7913/ 7901 Email: mark.harrison@icc.cricket.org