Team India cricketers set to get 500% pay hike
© BCCI Media
Indian cricketers are set to see a five-fold rise in their central contract money thanks to the Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court. This means that the Grade A cricketers, who are currently paid Rs 1 crore per annum, will earn Rs 5 crores after the hike.
The Indian cricketers who currently have a central contract with the BCCI are set to stumble upon a huge windfall. The Committee of Administrators (COA) are set to approve a recommendation which has been in the pipeline for a long time and was put on hold due to the BCCI's longstanding battle with the Supreme Court.
The proposal to hike the Test players' salary was in the pipeline since the series against New Zealand with the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) supporting the hike saying, “this may reduce the chances of bookies targeting frustrated players for the lure of big bucks.
“The money our top players make from BCCI contracts isn’t in sync with what other players fringe players earn,” a BCCI top official told DNA on Wednesday.
We want to send a signal to our top players that Test cricket is still our priority.
BCCI Official
The proposal had been mooted by members after the growth in the disparity of pay between national players and fringe IPL players. Players like Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been labeled as a Test specialist, were earning less than someone like Pawan Negi, who has received big contracts at the IPL auctions. The move is set to remove that disparity so that players like Pujara and Ishant Sharma are not bothered by their IPL snubs.
“We want to send a signal to our top players that Test cricket is still our priority. Look at how English or Aussie top players are more focused on playing for their countries.
“With the new COA in place, the players once again put forth their view. Similarly, even the support staff – excluding head coach Anil Kumble – have been demanding a hike because they haven’t got one since they came on board in 2013,” added the official.
While stars like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni earn millions from endorsement deals, the remaining Indian cricketers rely mostly on the contract they have with the BCCI. “If a player is good and valuable for Team India, he should get more or at least as much as any other player who is not even part of the national team,” said the official.
Once this hike is implemented, the Grade A cricketers, who are currently on a Rs 1 crore contract, will earn Rs 5 crore per annum. Grade B cricketers, who currently earn Rs 60 lakh per annum, will earn Rs 2 crore per annum. Grade C cricketers, who are currently on Rs 35 lakhs per year, will earn Rs 1 crore per annum.
