Mid-Day

After Customs officials confiscated the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup trophy on Monday evening, authorities are now saying that it would have to pay the Customs duty on the trophy or would have to take it back to Dubai as the cup has no certificate of exemption from the government of India.

On Monday evening, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Airport Customs had detained the ICC trophy, which arrived on a Jet Airways flight from Dubai in the baggage section.

Prized possession: Jodie Fields from the Australian team with the trophy after arriving back home to Australia after winning the 2012 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. File pic/Getty Images

According to Customs officials so far they have only received a letter requesting to release the trophy. “After the detention of the trophy we have received one letter from the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) requesting us to release the cup. The organisation has not produced the necessary government directives related to exemption for the trophy.

If they are unable to do so, they will have to take the trophy back,” explained P M Saleem, commissioner, Mumbai airport Customs.

Sources within the Customs also confirmed that the trophy, which is made of gold and silver has been sent to the concerned department for valuation so that the appropriate amount of tax is finalised.

Professor Ratnakar Shetty, chief administrative officer (CAO) of the BCCI said, “Since India is the host country for the ICC Women’s World Cup tourney, we informed the Customs about the arrival of the trophy. Despite that, they have detained the trophy and are refusing to release it. The Board is left with no option but to inform the International Cricket Council (ICC), the apex organisation about the problem.” The city will be hosting the World Cup event from January 31 to February 13, 2013.

(In Tuesday’s article this newspaper highlighted the trophy as the T20 Asia Cup trophy. The error is deeply regretted)