LONDON: England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will all receive part of the money withheld by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for World Cup contract infringements, the governing body said in a statement late Friday.

But India's World Cup payment, estimated at between 8 to 9 million dollars for all major cricket nations, is to be withheld. India's players refused to sign the standard tournament contracts because they were unwilling to surrender control of their personal endorsement and image rights.

India were, and remain, a major commercial market for all the official World Cup backers and, by extension, tournament broadcasting and sponsorship rights holders Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), who are taking action against the ICC.

England and New Zealand were penalised for refusing to play World Cup matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya, respectively, on safety grounds.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had money withheld after they missed the ICC deadline for returning signed player contracts.

England will have $1.5 million of their withheld $3.5 million payment returned with New Zealand being given $500,000 of the $2.5 million retained. Sri Lanka will receive all of the $500,000 withheld from their board.