Players meet board officials over graded-payments issue

The much-discussed graded-payment system for the Indian cricketers came a step closer to being implemented, after a three-member BCCI committee held discussions on this issue with four senior players - Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble. Speaking to reporters after the meeting which took place in Bangalore, Dravid indicated that both parties had broadly agreed on most of the issues. "The players and the board have agreed on lots of points. It's just the question of getting the final thing in place."

Dravid said that both the players and the board would benefit if the system was brought into place. "It will make the players feel that they are being taken care of by the board and remind them about their responsibility towards the board and the country."

Under the system, the players would be slotted into one of three grades, and would receive an annual retainer fee. For players in the top grade, the sum is expected to be Rs 60 lakhs (US$130,000 approx), while those in the second and third tiers would receive Rs 30 lakhs and Rs 15 lakhs. The team would also receive bonuses for wins - with the amount varying according to the rank of the opposition - while every defeat would result in a penalty which would be deducted from the match fee. A board official told the Press Trust of India that details regarding match fees and bonuses had not yet been finalised.