The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to take another big step to make domestic cricket more attractive for cricketers. The board has taken several steps in recent times to ensure that the players give due importance to domestic cricket.
Earlier this year, the BCCI issued a directive to players that required cricketers to represent their national teams if they are not playing for Team India. The board had to take the step after several players avoided participating in the Ranji Trophy to keep themselves fit for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The BCCI is now reportedly considering increasing the remuneration for domestic players. While the board has not taken a final decision on the matter, it has given the responsibility of making suggestions to implement the idea to the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the BCCI is unlikely to announce the increase in match fees immediately. However, the national selection committee discussed the proposal. By increasing the remuneration, the BCCI wants to ensure that the domestic players who do not have IPL contracts do not feel disadvantaged.
BCCI Doubles Fees of Domestic Cricketers:
While the BCCI is yet to take a final decision on the matter, all concerned parties are of the view that the fees for the domestic cricketers need to be at least doubled. There is also a suggestion that the domestic players should earn between INR 75 lakh and INR 1 crore annually after playing 10 Ranji Trophy games per season.
Currently, a player earns INR 60,000 per day if he has played more than 40 Ranji games, INR 50,000 if he has played between 21 and 40 games, and INR 40,000 for someone who has played 20 games. The reserve players, on the other hand, receive between INR 30,000, INR 25,000 and INR 20,000 in the respective categories.
As per the existing pay scale, a senior player would earn up to INR 25 lakh if his team reaches the final, while others in the team earn between INR 17 lakh and INR 22 lakh. The BCCI is now aiming to ensure that the domestic players’ earnings are increased significantly from the coming season.
BCCI’s main aim is to ensure that players prioritize red-ball cricket. There have been suggestions from several quarters to increase players’ fees and the board is finally working on it. Last month, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced an incentive of ₹45 lakh per match for the players who would play 75% or more of the scheduled Test matches in a particular season.
After the announcement, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar had suggested that the BCCI should also increase the fees of domestic cricketers.
“If the fees for the Ranji Trophy can be doubled or tripled, then there will certainly be a lot more people playing the Ranji Trophy and a lot fewer dropouts from the Ranji Trophy than if the fees for attending a Ranji Trophy game are a good fee.” “There will be fewer people dropping out for a variety of reasons,” Gavaskar had said.