Mumbai: Against the backdrop of the Indian team's poor performance in the Champions Trophy, the Indian cricket Board (BCCI) is considering a carrot-and-stick policy of rewarding performance for the players when it revamps the match-fee structure.

Minimum match fee

"The minimum match fee for the players would in all probability remain the same as it's at present," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said on Wednesday.

"A lot of Board members feel that performance-linked bonus payments should be introduced that will be disbursed among the various players as part of the 13.5 per cent distribution of the Board's revenue to them every year.

"Those who perform well will get more from this share."

The BCCI has formed a panel consisting of Secretary Shah, Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty, Vice-president Shashank Manohar and Treasurer N. Srinivasan to finalise the modalities of this scheme in a couple of days.

"I don't think the senior players can object to this incentive. But this has nothing to do with the annual contracts (with three grades A, B and C).

"That's separate and we hope to finalise it after sitting with the senior players and coach Greg Chappell before the team's departure for South Africa (on Nov. 13)," Shah said.

At present the cricketers contracted with the Board get Rs. 2.5 lakhs per Test and Rs. 1.6 lakhs per ODI, while those not contracted get Rs. 3.2 lakhs and Rs. 2.2 lakhs respectively.

Asked whether the implementation of the incentive scheme would mean that the match fees would get reduced, Shah said, "I don't think so." — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu