Sport - Cricket

Doubts persist over BCCI accepting fresh proposal

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, AUG. 8. The Indian cricketers seemed to have crossed the final hurdle but not the finishing line in the Central Players' Contract (CPC). It is still doubtful whether the fresh proposal on the ticklish issue of `annual retainership and match-fee for reserve players' put forward by the players would find favour with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The modified proposal with the senior players agreeing to a Rs. 10 lakh cutback in the annual retainership (from 60 lakh to 50 lakh) and reallocating the sum on a 50-50 ratio to the `B' and `C' category players and seeking a 20 per cent increase in match-fee from the previously agreed 50 per cent, has been sent by a players' representative to the BCCI President, Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The CPC should have been in place already, but the junior players who became the dramatis personae at the 11th hour, pointed out anomalies in the payment scale and delayed signing of the document before the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. The players' hesitation surprised the Board. After all, it was the players who had carefully considered the retainership and match-fee issues for over three years, taken counsel from lawyers and contributed to every part of the contract.

While briefing the Working Committee in New Delhi in July, Mr. Dalmiya told the members that the contract was ready and he was all set to meet the players before the Asia Cup. He also stated that a day before the scheduled meeting with the players, "the senior players informed him that some of the junior players were pleading for gradation on the basis of seniority rather than performance,'' reducing the gaps in retainership and increasing the match-fee for reserves.

Mr. Dalmiya immediately told the senior players that the Board would not be in a position to increase the money allotted (13 per cent of the Board's annual gross receipts) to international cricketers and that the players should determine the revised retainership. He also reminded the senior players that they had suggested the provision of paying 50 per cent of the match-fee for reserves as well as gradation on the basis of performance and not seniority.

It was then decided to form a gradation committee comprising the President, Secretary, Chairman of the senior selection committee and the coach to determine the gradation for the first year.

Revised fee

The revised proposal seeks a retainership of Rs. 50 lakh for `A' Group, Rs. 35 lakh for `B' Group, Rs. 20 lakh for `C' group players and 70 per cent match-fee for the reserve players. A senior member of the Board said that the international cricketers cannot gain at the expense of the first class cricketers. "The reserve players in the domestic tournaments receive 50 per cent of the match-fee. We cannot discriminate players. The same rule should apply across the board. Moreover, the Board cannot exceed the 13 per cent allotted to international cricketers.''

The Board allocated 13 per cent (of its gross annual revenue) for the international cricketers on the basis of the fee and logo money paid to the players now. "They get Rs. 2.68 lakh for a Test and Rs. 2.25 lakh for a one-day match. We also made sure that the revised combined figure (retainership and match fee) would be in excess of their previous annual earnings,'' said the Board official.

The Board's finance committee is likely to consider the players' contract at its meeting here on Monday and Tuesday. One of the clauses in the contract stipulates that the retainership money should be paid in four equal instalments — once in three months — as is the practice followed by the Board. As of now, the players have received fee and logo money up to the Australian tour.

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