Not satisfied by the BCCI’s decision last month to double the retainers fee of contracted cricketers, former Team India manager Ravi Shastri today advocated for a significant increase in their payment.
The former all-rounder’s reaction comes amid reports of several top Indian players demanding a steep hike in their emoluments.
Terming as ‘peanuts’ the increase in their payment announced by the BCCI recently, he said, “It's (what they are getting) nothing, (Rs) 2 crore is peanuts. How much is an Australian (cricketer) getting?"
Last month, the BCCI had doubled the retainers for all contracted players to two crore, one crore and 50 lakh respectively for the three graded categories A, B and C. The Board had also enhanced the match fees to Rs 15 lakh, 6 lakh and 3 lakh per Test match, ODI and T20 International respectively.
Singling out top Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara who does not have a contract with any franchise team in the cash-awash IPL, Shastri said that the BCCI should ensure that the Saurashtra player is not worried for not being part of the T20 league and, thus, missing out on a huge pay-out.
"The grade contracts of a Test player should be the highest. (Cheteshwar) Pujara should be the highest, at par with top players. Your A grade contracts have to be massive," he said.
"That is the best grade, where an A grade player like Pujara gets a massive amount and is not bothered whether he plays IPL or not. He will be happy and say 'I can play two months of country cricket' and go (to England)," the former Test and ODI all-rounder said.
Shastri's support for another steep hike in players' fees comes on the heels of reports suggesting that the players were unhappy with the enhanced pay structure announced by the Board on March 22.
Their contention, according to the reports, is that the cricketers from England, Australia and South Africa were being paid much more by their respective cricket boards.
With PTI Inputs
