New Zealand cricketers are one step away from not only achieving World Cup glory for the first time in their country’s cricketing history, they are also within touching distance of a cash bonanza.
As England and New Zealand face off in Lord’s on Sunday, the Kiwi players will be vying for not only their second major ICC trophy of any kind – after the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy – but also a slice of the $10 million overall prize money.
The Kiwis are already guaranteed $2 million for being in the final. If they do defeat hosts England, the will take home $4 million for winning the trophy. They came close last time against Australia in 2015 and will be hoping to go all the way this time.
Apart from the winner’s cheque, New Zealand also stand to gain $40,000 from each win in the league stage – which amounts to $200,000 after five wins. On top of that, they also get an additional $100,000 for qualifying to the semis. In all, the winner of the final stands to net $4.3 million.
New Zealand Herald quoted NZ Cricket Players’ Association chief executive Heath Mills as saying that the money would be split equally among all 15 members of the squad, while the support staff will get an equal share of their portion of the remaining money.
“It is a significant payday if they go well. And they deserve it,” Mills was quoted as saying.
“The World Cup is a significant revenue earner for the ICC, its members and obviously players should quite rightly share in that return.”
