Graded payment system to be introduced

For some time now there has been talk in cricket circles about graded payments to cricketers. Perhaps the cynics will say that payments to the players should be graded according to performance! That may not be far from the mark but the fact remains that there is a lot of sense in graded payments, according to seniority. Somehow it just does not seem fitting that a Tendulkar or Azharuddin should be paid the same as a junior player.

After a lot of planning, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has finalised a graded payment system to players who represent the country in Tests and one day internationals from October. The payment will be made to cricketers who will be graded on the basis of the number of Tests and ODI's they have played.

The graded payments system was worked out by the finance committee of the BCCI. KM Rungta, the treasurer of the BCCI, was asked to prepare draft proposals for the gradation system at the BCCI annual general meeting in September last year. Some of the senior players have already been appraised of the system and Rungta is scheduled to meet Ganguly in London later this month for a discussion on the proposals. The minimum basic fees is to be determined by their seniority but it is hoped that the system will inculcate the desire for higher achievements.

According to the recommendations, which have to be ratified by the working committee and then the AGM in September, players like Azharuddin, Tendulkar and other seniors who have played over 50 Tests and 100 ODI's will receive Rs two lakh and Rs 1.6 lakh respectively per match in future. At present a senior in the team takes home Rs 1.55 as logo fees and Rs 40,000 as match fees for Tests which works out to a total of Rs 1.95 lakh per Test while for ODI's the player gets Rs 25,000 as match fees and Rs 1,30,909 as logo money. For cricketers not in the playing eleven as well as the coach, the logo money at present is Rs 1.2 lakhs per ODI and Rs 1,42,500 per Test.

According to the revised scales, a player would get Rs 50,000 for his first ten Tests, Rs 75,000 for playing his 11th to 25th Test, Rs 1.25 lakh for playing his 26th to 50th Test and Rs two lakh if he has played more than 50 Tests. The payment scales for ODI's are: Rs 30,000 (upto 30 matches), Rs 60,000 (from 31 to 60 matches), Rs 1.2 lakh (from 61 to 100 matches) and Rs 1.6 lakhs (above 100 matches). In addition, bonus amounts would be introduced for team performances, according to the recommendations.

On tours, the system of paying a consolidated amount to the players as is prevalent now, would be done away with and instead they will be paid according to the new gradation system, according to the recommendations.