Muthiah welcomes Condon recommendations

Board President A C Muthiah has welcomed the recommendation of Sir Paul Condon to improve the pay packets of cricketers and felt a contract system for players would help in instilling financial security in them.

"I personally feel it's (increasing pay packets for cricketers) a good suggestion... and contract system is a better answer to regularise the income of the players," Muthiah told PTI on phone from Lahore where he is attending a two-day meeting of the Asian Cricket Council.

Condon, in his report on match-fixing which was made public yesterday, said cricketers were paid less compared to some of the other sportsmen which was one of the reasons for their being lured into corrupt practices.

Muthiah said a contract system would ensure a regular income to a cricketer even while he was injured and unable to play. "We will work out a consensus (in BCCI) and try to introduce such a system for Indian players," he said.

He also supported Condon's idea of involving players and their representative bodies in the administration and overall management of the game. Muthiah said though the report did not mention any names, the recommendations contained therein, if implemented, would go a long way in reducing corruption in the game. "We will try and implement some of the recommendations," he said.