The Board of Control for Cricket in India has demanded the International Cricket Council pay them $6.5 million World Cup appearance money withheld due to a player contracts dispute.

The BCCI had launched an inquiry into what it described as "inadequate marketing" by the Global Cricket Corporation, the ICC's commercial partner for the tournament held this year in South Africa.

Complete Coverage The ICC Contract face-off

The GCC had asked the ICC to pay $47 million to compensate for loss of revenue after Indian players, many of whom enjoy lucrative personal endorsements, only signed altered agreements for this year's World Cup to protect their individual deals.

It also withheld money from England and New Zealand who boycotted matches over security fears and Sri Lanka whose players signed their contracts late.

The GCC has a $550 million rights deal for ICC events until 2007.

India's share of 2003 World Cup revenue would have been between around $8-9 million but they say they are still owed $6.5 million of that which the ICC are withholding until their dispute with GCC is settled.

"We have asked the ICC to release the money due to us since we have concluded that the claim made by GCC was exaggerated and based on flimsy ground," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said in Madras on Wednesday.

The BCCI, which has been in regular communication with the ICC over the issue, found support from the world body.

"The ICC is standing firm against the $47 million claim by its commercial partner, GCC, after its investigations identified that many of the allegations made by GCC's marketing agent World Sport Nimbus lacked substance," the ICC said in a statement from London on Tuesday.

It said information provided by the BCCI had highlighted that several aspects of the GCC claim needed to be "properly investigated".

But the GCC said it stood by its claim.

"The GCC is satisfied its claim for the compensation against the ICC is based on accurate and reasonable grounds," the GCC said in a press release from Singapore.

The ICC said in June that England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka would receive part of their withheld money.