Contract killing: Sourav?s salary Rs 60 lakh a year

The BCCI announced on Monday that Indian cricketers would be given annual retainers in addition to match fees. Under the new arrangement, which will be in place before the Asia Cup beginning July 16, the players on contract will be divided into three categories.

The BCCI announced on Monday that Indian cricketers would be given annual retainers in addition to match fees. Under the new arrangement, which will be in place before the Asia Cup beginning July 16, the players on contract will be divided into three categories.

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The players in the top slab will be paid Rs 60 lakh annually, those in the second slab will get Rs 30 lakh and players in the last category will make Rs 15 lakh. Match fees will be around Rs 2,00,000 for a Test and Rs 1,60,000 for an ODI.

The selection committee will meet on July 7 to pick the team for the Asia Cup. A grading committee — comprising Syed Kirmani, the chairman of the selection committee, coach John Wright, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and BCCI secretary S.K. Nair — will meet on July 9 to pick a pool of 15-20 players who will be granted contracts. On the same day, the grading will be done on the basis of the value of the players to the team and guidelines formulated by the selection committee.

Nair said all the 14 players picked for the Asia Cup would not necessarily be selected for the contract pool.

Former and current cricketers welcomed the decision. "This is the best thing to happen to Indian cricket," said Anil Kumble, who helped draft the contracts. "The players will feel secure and not be worried … in case they are injured."

"A player cannot offer to relax because one bad season may see him not only being downgraded but pushed out of the contracts system," he added.

"In our time, players who were injured were not paid and that hurt a lot," said Kapil Dev. "Now players (will) not be worried about their future."

(With agency inputs)