Kiwi cricketers still awaiting share of 2010 Champions League prize money

Wellington, May 29 (ANI): A number of top New Zealand cricketers are still awaiting their share of the 2010 Champions League prize money almost eight months after the event was held.

According to stuff.co.nz, the New Zealand province of Central Districts has said that while the players' participation fees have been paid, the prize money owed to them - and to players from the other nations - is still being withheld by the competition organisers.

Central Districts ended the tournament in last place without a win from four matches but are understood to be waiting on a payment of close to 200,000 US dollars.

New Zealand Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills said citing red tape for the delay in making the payments was no excuse for what had become "a disgraceful situation".

He also warned that players would be reluctant to take part in future tournaments - including this year's, scheduled for October - if the pay issue wasn't addressed immediately.

"It's not acceptable when people complete a job and honour all their obligations under a contract to the person they are working for, yet they aren't compensated for completing that work," Mills told the Sunday Star-Times.

"That wouldn't be accepted in any other workplace environment," he added.

New Zealand Cricket boss Justin Vaughan said payments out of India were often delayed but conceded the current situation wasn't a good look.

He said: "We've struck this in the past with sponsorship payments so it's not unexpected in a way. That said, it is dragging on too long and it's very hard to argue when the distribution of funds is being held up by a government process." (ANI)