Cricket in Asia has received a welcome boost with the announcement that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is to receive a multi-million dollar injection from its international parent body. "The ACC will receive 19.5 million dollars in two installments," ACC secretary Zakir Hussain Syed told a press briefing.

The money comes at a time when cricket in the region is suffering because of the heightened political rift between India and Pakistan.

At least three million dollars of the International Cricket Council (ICC) cash will go towards establishing cricketing academies across the region.

"A central academy will be established in Nepal along with regional academies in Malaysia and United Arab Emirates," Syed said. "The central academy will be state-of-art with professional staffing for future needs.

"The ACC believes that the UAE, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong are fast-track countries and has a view to prepare them for one-day international status in the near future."

Last October, the Asian block of the ICC – comprising Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - threatened a breakaway, protesting its voice was not being heard.

India had clashed with the ICC over the Mike Denness affair, finally settled at an ICC meeting last month in Cape Town.

Denness, an ICC match referee, had penalised six Indian players in a Test in South Africa, prompting India to challenge his decisions.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd