Award disparity has pros fuming
Pofessionals in the Ranji champions Rajasthan team --- Aakash Chopra, skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Rashmi Ranjan Parida — are hurt over the step-motherly treatment by the Rajasthan Cricket Association after they were clubbed with non-playing members while distributing cash incentives to the winners at a felicitation function held in Jaipur on Thursday.
Pofessionals in the Ranji champions Rajasthan team --- Aakash Chopra, skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Rashmi Ranjan Parida — are hurt over the step-motherly treatment by the Rajasthan Cricket Association after they were clubbed with non-playing members while distributing cash incentives to the winners at a felicitation function held in Jaipur on Thursday.
“We, the professionals, are extremely hurt at being treated as non-playing members. It's not about the money but the respect and justice,” said former India player and Rajasthan opener Chopra.
Chopra had also tweeted about his displeasure and claimed Parida and Kanitkar also felt the same.
Chopra told Hindustan Times the decision came as a shock and surprise. “Hrishi was in Pune and I was in Delhi, so we couldn't attend the felicitation. But Parida was there and he informed us about the treatment,” he added.
It is learnt the professionals, like the non-playing members, were paid R12.50 lakh each, while other regular playing members were awarded around R17 lakh each. “We do not wish to mar the celebrations as winning the trophy for the second consecutive year was important, but intend to raise the issue with RCA,” he added.
However, RCA treasurer Mahendra Sharma said: “As a professional, the trio was already getting contract fees. It was a policy decision taken considering the fact that the local players were not getting any additional sum apart from prize money.”
Sharma also said the players have not formally communicated their displeasure to RCA.