BCCI to finalise new fee-structure for players

India's pull out from the Asian Test Championship (ATC), a new fee structure for players and the poor peformance by the Indian team in Sri Lanka will be discussed at the Cricket Board's Working Committee meeting in Mumbai on Saturday.

According to informed sources, the Board is seized of the player's views on the fee structure, both for international and domestic matches.

The sources said the players were not happy witthe the fact that the difference in the match-fees between a playing member and a 12th man was a mere five to 10 per cent. For instance, if Rahul Dravid or any other senior player were to receive Rs one crore for a full tour, a player in the team who had not been fielded at all in the playing eleven would get Rs 99 lakh.

A graded system of payment would be in place before the Indian team leaves for South Africa on a full tour, they added.

The meeting will discuss threadbare the ATC in Pakistan, which the government has denied India from participating in. The Asian Cricket Foundation, which implements the programmes of ACC, had on August 16, has already said ATC would be held even without India.

The Working Committee will also discuss the poor performance of the Indian team in the ongoing series in Sri Lanka and also discuss the performance of Indian captain Saurav Ganguly.

The sources said that 'the Board does not interfere with selection of the captain or team, but will surely discuss the various aspects behind the failure.'

The Committee will also discuss and decide on the share that players will receive from the sale of telecast rights of the various matches.

BCCI, the richest body among the ACC members, has also decided to provide subsidies to its affiliated state units for expansion of infrastructural facilities, including construction of stadia and other facilities like weight training and covers and mowers.

The Working Committee will also finalise the itinerary of the Indian team's tour of South Africa and the format for the Ranji Trophy.