NSW yet to receive CLT20 prize money

Melbourne: They won the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 more than two months ago, but New South Wales Blues are yet to get the $2.7 million prize money from the organisers of the Twenty20 event. Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert has confirmed they are still to receive the cash and has recently been asked by the organisers to submit an invoice to clear the way for the payment to the players, a development which did not go well with Australian domestic side.

           "I can't remember having the invoice for the prize money. We were advised during the tournament payment to the winner would be 20 business days at the conclusion of the competition, which indicated it would be late November," Gilbert was quoted as saying in theDaily Telegraph. "But now we're in January and we haven't seen anything. It's certainly not panic stations, but we'd like to see the money soon," he said. The introduction of the Champions League has undoubtedly increased spectators interest in KFC Big Bash, Australia's domestic Twenty20 tournament, the winners and runners-up of which will qualify for this year's CLT20. Gilbert said Cricket Australia was aware of the payment drama and that the players have been understanding and confident.