Johannesburg: The Executive Board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday decided to withhold payments to England and New Zealand for boycotting World Cup matches.England stands to lose $ 3.5 million for forfeiting its match against Zimbabwe at Harare on February 13 on moral and security grounds. New Zealand will lose $ 2.5 million for refusing to play its February 21 match against Kenya at Nairobi for security reasons.The payments will be withheld till compensation claims, likely to be made by official sponsors and broadcasters, are decided, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told reporters after a two-day meeting of the Executive Board.The ICC also stood by its earlier decision to withhold payments worth $ 9 million to India after its cricketers refused to accept the original players terms for the tournament. The World Cup ends on Sunday with the final between defending champions Australia and India. Copyright AFP 2001

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Tags: cricket, international cricket council, icc, england, new zealand, world cup, zimbabwe, kenya, icc chief executive malcolm speed, australia vs india.