The West Indies players who won the 2016 ICC World Cup on Sunday in Kolkata, India will share a total of US$1.28M according to the current structure obtained by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
For winning the tournament, the West Indies got US$1.6 million. However according to the MOU signed between the board and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), 20 per cent of this prize money will be retained by the WICB. This comes up to a total of US$320,000 and leaves the remainder of US$1.28 million to be shared by the players.
In addition to the prize money the players will each receive a total of US$41,400 in match fees. The WICB had stated that they are paying US$6,900 per player per match across the board. The West Indies won three matches in the Super10 stage of the tournament and this amounted to US$150,000 ($50,000 for each win). This money will go towards the board’s coffers.
On the women’s side, they won US$1 million in prize money and it is unclear how the WICB will treat with this.
Meanwhile, England will take home US$800,000 for finishing runners-up. India and New Zealand who both lost in semis will take home US$400,000 each. Players who get cash prizes based on individual performances from ICC or the main sponsors of competitions, are allowed to keep it.
Cash prizes are usually given to “player of the match” in every game by main sponsors of the tournament. While ICC award “Player of the tournament trophy” and cash prize of US$10,000 to the player who is elected as the best player in tournament.
The champions will not be returning home as a group because some players have commitments in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Others have decided to take short stop overs in other countries on their way back to home. The women’s team however left India on Monday night bound for the Caribbean and their first port of call will be Bridgetown.
The others will return home to start preparations for the upcoming tri-series among the West Indies, Australia and South Africa. The WICB has not indicated what they will do to honour the team.