BCCI hikes match fees for domestic cricketers

Apex Council also ratifies India’s crammed home international season

Many Indian cricketers struggled financially after the Ranji Trophy was not held last year for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. File.

While raising match-fees across the board in domestic cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced graded match-fees payment structure for senior men’s domestic cricketers.

The decision was made by the BCCI apex council during its meeting on Monday. The council also approved 50% compensation for the cricketers who featured in 2019-20 Ranji Trophy season for the cancelled 2020-21 edition due to COVID-19.

Talking point

The biggest talking point remained the supposed steep hike in match-fees. The revised match-fees structure — ₹40,000 per match-day (1 to 20 matches), ₹50,000 per match-day (21 to 40 matches) and ₹60,000 per match-day (40+ matches) — incentivises the First Class regulars in domestic cricket.

Besides, the apex council felt that it will also push rookies who earn Indian Premier League contracts to also strive harder in domestic cricket to earn better livelihood.

I am pleased to announce the hike in match fee for domestic cricketers.

Seniors – INR 60,000 (above 40 matches).

Under 23- INR 25,000

Under 19 – INR 20,000#BCCIApexCouncil

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 20, 2021

 

However, at least in the short-term, more than half of the domestic cricketers will end up making lesser than they did in the last Ranji Trophy season. When the match-fees was ₹35,000 per match-day in 2019-20, each team was assured of at least eight league-stage games.

From this season onwards, the assured group games have been reduced to five, thus leading to lesser pay for a majority of cricketers.

Meanwhile, the apex council also ratified India’s crammed home international season, including 14 T20Is, four Tests and three ODIs against four different oppositions.

The apex council during its virtual meeting also ratified the BCCI’s new initiative of introducing the Prevention of Sexual Harassment policy.

Officials have to wait

While the apex council finally brought good news for domestic cricketers — men and women, juniors and seniors alike — the match officials were left waiting for their compensation package.

More than 500 officials — match referees, umpires, scorers and video analysts — have been been waiting for more than a year for the COVID-19 compensation package. It is understood the matter will be placed in the annual general meeting later this year.