The International Cricket Council has decided to withhold the entire payment due to India from the 2003 World Cup as it has been unable to assess the likely maximum claim from the Global Cricket Corporation for violation of the ambush marketing clause.

Though the exact figure withheld has not been specified, it is estimated to be about $ 9 million.

After a meeting of the Board of ICC Development International in Monaco on Friday, the ICC's new president Ehsan Mani said: "In relation to the Indian Board, it is not possible at this stage to assess the likely maximum claims and all countries made the prudent financial decision to continue to withhold the Indian Board's World Cup distribution at this stage."

Indian players refused to sign the original tournament contracts saying these would place restrictions on their personal endorsements during the World Cup. They agreed to participate in the tournament only on an amended Players' Terms which severely diluted the original clauses.

The Global Cricket Corportation, which had the rights of all the ICC events till 2007, gave a briefing on its claim for compensation at Friday's meeting.

The IDI meeting, however, decided to return the entire $ 0.5 million withheld from Sri Lanka and part of the money
held back from England and New Zealand after the World Cup in South Africa.

While England will get $ 1.5 million out of $ 3.5 million withheld, New Zealand will be returned $ 0.5 million
of $ 2.5 million held back.

"The decision comes after the Board of IDI was briefed on the claim for compensation by its commercial partner, GCC," an ICC release said.

"After examining the claim, the Board was able to make an informed judgement on the likely maximum claims that would be made against these countries and it was apparent that these are unlikely to exceed the amounts withheld," it said.

England and New Zealand had their money withheld as they refused to play matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya respectively citing security concerns.

Sri Lanka's money was held back because they did not return signed player contracts by the ICC deadline.

Mani said the specific nature of the issues relating to England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka allowed their money to be
released. "The nature of the claims allowed us to return money to three of our Boards," he said.