Indian cricketers still waiting for bonuses

Indian cricketers are still waiting for the bonuses promised to them by the Board of Control for Cricket in India after they beat Pakistan in Pakistan in April last year.

The board grandiosely announced bonuses totalling to Rs10 million (US$200,000 approx), 5 million for winning the one-day series 3-2 and 5 million for winning the Test series. The announcement was made by no less than Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then board president.

However, while the players recently received payments up to, and including, the series against South Africa which ended in December, they are yet to receive the bonus. The board's payment schedules are ad-hoc at best and players often go for months without remuneration. The recent payment was made after a gap of eight months.

Jyoti Bajpai, the treasurer of the board, told Cricinfo: "I don't think the bonus amount has been disbursed yet. But, I am not at my office at the moment so I will have to check. But as per my memory it as not been paid yet."

The treasurer also revealed that there was no fixed structure in place regarding the schedule of payments. "The normal match fees are paid after every series," he said. "We have to take into account many things ­ participation, fines S and then we disburse the payments."