Customs Clarifies that World Cup Trophy was Held Back at Airport for Re-export on Request from ICC

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), Ministry of Finance has denied that the original ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy is lying in the Airport Customs Warehouse in Mumbai. The clarification was issued in response to the report appearing in certain section of media that actual ICC Cricket World Cup trophy has not been awarded to the winning India Cricket team at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday, 2nd April, 2011.

ICC has also confirmed that the trophy presented to Indian Cricket team at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, 2nd April 2011 was original ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy and the one that was always intended to be presented to the winner of the event. It has further added that the trophy seized by Mumbai Customs is the promotional, perpetual trophy which remains in the keeping of the ICC at its headquarters in Dubai. It carries the generic ICC corporate logo rather than the logo specific to the 2011 event. That trophy will be reclaimed today and will travel back to Dubai with ICC staff as was always intended.

The Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) has further informed that two passengers by the name of Mrs. Emma Waite and Mr. Rixon Heyder, arrived by Flight 9W 255 on 1st April, 2011 at Mumbai airport from Colombo. They were carrying a trophy in their personal baggage which was claimed to be ‘ICC Perpetual Trophy’. All goods and equipments imported temporarily for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament, a list of which was given by the ICC Tournament Committee, have been exempted from customs duty. However, the list given by the ICC Tournament Committee did not cover the aforesaid trophy which was claimed by the passengers to be ‘ICC Perpetual Trophy’.

To remove all doubts, the concerned Customs officer(s), therefore, contacted the ICC Tournament Director and enquired about the said ‘trophy’, so that appropriate action could be taken expeditiously and the matter resolved.

In response, Professor R.S. Shetty, Tournament Director, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 vide his letter dated 1.4.2011 addressed to Commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai informed that:

i) The ‘trophy’ in question was not to be used for any purpose inside the country for the ongoing World Cup;

ii) It was being carried by Mrs. Emma Waite and Mr. Rixon Heyder as their personal baggage and that it would have been taken back to the ICC Headquarters on completion of their assignment in India;

iii) That the trophy shall be collected by the above passengers on their way back to their destination;

A request was also made in the letter of Professor Shetty that the Customs office may hold the trophy in the Customs warehouse at the Mumbai Airport till it is collected by the above passengers on their return.

It is, therefore, clear that the trophy meant for the winning side has been given to the winning side and an avoidable controversy appears to have arisen in the matter.

[Source: PIB Press Releases dated 4 April 2011]