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The BCCI is looking to boost the income of domestic players as they have tasked the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, with exploring ways to increase remuneration. While an immediate hike in match fees is unlikely, discussions are underway to address the issue. The primary goal is to bridge the financial gap between domestic players and those participating in the lucrative IPL.
Rs 1 crore salary for India's domestic cricketers?
The BCCI is considering various plans, but there seems to be a common thread – at least a doubling of current domestic cricket fees. Moreover, some propose that players who participate in 10 Ranji Trophy games annually could potentially earn between INR 75 lakh and INR 1 crore, as per a report by Cricbuzz.
Current BCCI's pay structure for domestic cricketers
The current BCCI pay structure for domestic cricketers varies depending on experience. Players with extensive experience (over 40 Ranji games) earn INR 60,000 per day, while those with moderate experience (21-40 games) get INR 50,000, and newer players (20 games) receive INR 40,000. Reserves earn proportionally less. Based on this structure, a seasoned cricketer playing a full Ranji Trophy season (including the final) could potentially earn up to INR 25 lakh.
This system extends to other BCCI domestic tournaments like the Vijay Hazare and Mushtaq Ali trophies as well. However, there's a strong possibility of an increase in domestic player remuneration starting next season. The BCCI is actively exploring ways to maximize the earnings of these athletes.
The BCCI's proposed pay hike targets a two-fold benefit: boosting domestic cricket participation and promoting red-ball cricket in India.
Last season, some players opted out of red-ball cricket, prioritising their fitness for the lucrative IPL. This plan aims to make the Ranji Trophy more financially attractive, incentivising players to participate. This initiative aligns with the BCCI's broader goal of strengthening red-ball cricket in India. It follows Secretary Jay Shah's recent announcement of increased match fees for Test cricketers, further emphasising the importance of the longer format.
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In response to calls for increased focus on the longer format, the board is actively working on boosting player compensation for red-ball matches. This follows last month's announcement by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, introducing a new incentive scheme offering ₹45 lakh per match for Test players who participate in at least 75% of their scheduled games in a season. This move clearly demonstrates the BCCI's commitment to making red-ball cricket more attractive for players.
Earlier, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had also welcomed BCCI's big move, who batted for doubling and tripling the domestic cricketers' salaries.
"If the Ranji Trophy fees can be doubled or tripled, certainly there'll be a lot more people playing the Ranji Trophy, and a lot less pullouts from the Ranji Trophy, because if the fees of playing a Ranji Trophy match are a good fee, there will be fewer people pulling out for various reasons," Gavaskar had earlier said.
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