The Hindu : BCCI moots contract system

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 20, 2002

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Sport - Cricket

BCCI moots contract system

By Our Sports Reporter

KOLKATA JUNE 19. Keeping in tune with the accountability theory, the Board of Control for Cricket in India adopted a path-breaking draft proposal that will reward the players for success while penalising them for a failure. The first day of the two-day working committee meeting deliberated on all the recommendations and references before deciding to adopt the ``contract system and gradation of payments'' in principle on Wednesday.

The working committee decision has the BCCI entering into a ``retainership agreement with 20 players,'' to initiate the contract system which will reviewed annually, announced the BCCI president Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The gradation process will have these 20 players divided into four categories — A1, A, B and C — depending on the merit and performance which will be worked out by the Board. Grade A1 player — showing extra-ordinary performance — will get a sum of Rs.75 lakh, while the rest in the following category will get 60, 30 and 15 lakh respectively.

If any non-contracted player plays three Tests or 10 one-day internationals during a year, he would also be offered a retainership on ``a pro rata basis from the date of entry till the subsistence of the agreement.''

Finally, the accountability factor comes into force in the match fees. The meeting decided to award 100 per cent bonus over and above the match fees to a player for defeating a team that is ranked higher in the ratings. A win over a team ranked lower in the ratings will attract 50 per cent bonus. In case of a defeat, however, the ``match fee would be reduced by 50 per cent,'' Mr. Dalmiya declared.

The BCCI president said that the working committee's decision will remain open to more deliberations before and the players will have their say before it is finally enacted. In another decision, the BCCI adopted a new format for the ``senior domestic tournament.'' As per the recommendations of the Board's technical committee, a two-tier system will be introduced from the 2002-2003 cricket season.

Starting with the Ranji Trophy, the participating teams — totalling 27 now — will be divided in two divisions. Division A would be the elite group consisting 15 teams — top three teams from the five zones — who will play in a league format before deciding the Ranji Trophy champion on points. The remaining 12 teams will be placed in the Division B, which will also have a similar league format and the team netting the highest points will declare the Ranji Plate Champion.' The president added that it is proposed to have the bottom two teams from Division A relegated to division B while the top two from the second tier will be promoted. The Board's Tour, Programme and Fixture Committee next month would work out the finer details of the entire format of Ranji Trophy and the other tournaments.

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