• No World Cup bonuses for SA

    Cricket South Africa want pride and history, rather than extravagant bonuses, to motivate the Proteas to win the World Cup.

    There are currently no plans to award the Proteas with bonuses for winning the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, although the team would walk away with an estimated $4 million (R45 million) in prize money should they progress through the group stage unbeaten and then go on to win the tournament.

    ‘It won’t be an unpleasant amount,’ Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat told Netwerk24.

    ‘We feel the pride of representing your country in the World Cup and the possibility of becoming the first group of South Africans to hold aloft the trophy, should be enough motivation for the players, rather than trying to motivate them with bonuses.’

    Lorgat did admit, however, that should the Proteas win the World Cup, CSA could change their minds and reward the players with something extra.

    The Cricket World Cup runs from February 14 until March 29, with South Africa playing their first match against Zimbabwe in Hamilton, New Zealand on February 15.

    South Africa will also face India, West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in the group stages.

    The ICC announced a 20% increase in prize money for the 2015 event in November last year. The winners will get $4.3 million, but that figure will grow to $4.6 million if the team remains unbeaten throughout the tournament.

    The total prize money for the tournament will be $11.5 million, compared to the $9.2 million for the 2011 World Cup hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

    The team which loses the March 29 final at Melbourne will pocket $2 million, while the two losing semi-finalists will each get $692 000.

    The four losing quarter-finalists will receive $346 000 each, while the winners of each group match will get $52 000.

    All six teams eliminated from the first stage will get $40 000 apiece.