FICA urges players to boycott CL T20

The Federation of International Cricketers' Association is urging players to stay away from this year's Champions League Twenty20, saying the tournament has "little or no credibility" given that prize money from last year's edition has still not been paid.

FICA Chief Executive Tim May said six million dollars remain unpaid, of which Victoria is owed 200,000 dollars while South Australia 500,000 dollars.

"FICA will be recommending that players refrain from agreeing to play in future CLT20s without some certainty as to the payment of participation fees and prize money," May was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Australian Cricketers' Association chief Paul Marsh echoed May's views.

"Given the uncertainty over payment of this prize money, and the assurances that have so far amounted to nothing, I'm sure players will have concerns about participating in the future," Marsh said.

Marsh said he expects Cricket Australia to make up for the delay by paying the players from its coffers.

"We would expect CA to follow (South Africa's) lead and pay the players directly. This extremely long delay in paying players money to which they are entitled is both unacceptable and embarrassing to all involved in the event -- including CA as a key stakeholder," he said.

But CA spokesman Peter Young said the matter is between the players and the CLT20 organisers.

"It's a CLT20 obligation," he said. "They should be paying it."

Dean Kino, CA's legal affairs manager and its representative on the CLT20 board, said the delay has been caused by the administrative work that is required to get such a huge amount of foreign exchange released from India.

"It requires Indian foreign exchange sanction before it can be released," Kino said.

"The (Indian board) has to make an application for it to be released, and is still waiting for approval," he added.