Warne gets biggest IPL packet

The BCCI reveals the list of his employees along with their wages, after a meeting of its Finance Committee in Mumbai.

It is not everyday that an employer reveals the list of his employees along with their wages, but that’s exactly what the Cricket Board (BCCI) did on Friday, after a meeting of its Finance Committee in Mumbai.

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It was a surprise for the scribes, who are used to the veil of secrecy that surrounds the Board’s dealings, when a senior BCCI official announced the names of the 34 players who have signed the IPL contracts and the money they would be paid.

Accordingly, Australian retired spin legend Shane Warne would be the highest paid among those who will be playing in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League to be held in March-April next year.

The leg-spinner, who held the world record for most Test wickets when he retired in January this year, would pocket $400,000 for appearing in the tournament, which is to be played in T20 format with teams, featuring several star players, to be auctioned and owned by franchisees.

Glenn McGrath ($350,000), the Aussie pacer who has also retired from international cricket, former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming ($350,000), Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik ($300,000) and Mohammad Yusuf ($330,000), all are to be richer than the Sri Lankan off-spinner.

In all, the list included 34 cricketers. Significantly, there was no Indian in the list. On being asked about Oz captain Ricky Ponting and swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist’s plans, the board official said the talks are going on with them and would make a formal announcement soon.

THE moolah-rakers

Shane Warne: $400,000

Glenn McGrath: $350,000

Mohammad Yousuf: $330,000

Stephen Fleming: $350,000

Shoaib Akhtar: $225,000

Shoaib Malik: $300,000

Muttiah Muralitharan: $250,000