The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is set to earn a landfall revenue of about Rs 46,000 crore from the Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights auction, has also announced an increase in the monthly pensions of former cricketers (male and female) as well as former umpires. First-class players who used to get Rs 15,000 will now get Rs 30,000, while former Test players who got Rs 37,500 will now get Rs 60,000, and those with Rs 50,000 pension will get Rs 70,000.
Meanwhile, international women players who used to get Rs 30,000, will now get Rs 52,500. Apart from this, first-class cricketers who retired before 2003 and used to get Rs 22,500, will now get Rs 45,000 as a pension.
"It is very important that we take care of the financial condition of our former cricketers. Players are like a lifeline for the board and as a board, it is our responsibility to take care of them after retirement from the game. "The umpires are like anonymous heroes and the BCCI understands their contribution," said BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.
Meanwhile, even BCCI Secretary Jay Shah voiced his thoughts, "we want to take care of our former cricketers and we have taken a necessary step in that direction. We cannot forget the contribution that umpires have made over the years. I am very happy to announce the increase in the monthly pension of former cricketers and match officials. This will benefit about 900 people. About 75 percent of the people who are getting pension will be able to avail the benefit of 100 percent pension increase. "
