BCCI yet to pay Leipus

Andrew Leipus, who was replaced by John Gloster as the Indian team's physio in February, has yet to be paid for the last five months of his tenure with the Indian team. Since his contract was worth US$50-60,000, the money owed to him is US$21-25,000. This revelation, by the Indian Express, is the latest in a series of blows to the BCCI's reputation in matters of finance.

SK Nair, the secretary of the board, parried the issue to Jyoti Bajbai, the treasurer. "I distinctly remember that two weeks back I had cleared the payment," said Nair. "The treasurer's office usualy transfers the amount from the bank account in Kanpur to Andrew's bank. We usually pay him in three instalments because of the RBI regulations.

"Maybe," Nair added, "the money is in transit."

Bajpai admitted that there had been a delay and said he was yet unclear about the payment. "I will have to check up. I am not quite sure about the payment. But, yes, there has been a delay."

The same newspaper stated that John Wright, who looks set to end his tenure as coach after Pakistan's tour, remained unpaid for seven months last year, that the Indian team was yet to receive the Rs50lakh (approx. US$114,000) bonus they were awarded by the board after the series win in Pakistan, and that the first of the graded payments were still to be made to the team.