BCCI refused to discuss the issue of compensations that is yet to be disbursed to the Indian domestic cricketers since the Ranji Trophy 2020 was cancelled on account of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, at its Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday.
According to a report, a state association did raise the topic but BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and vice-president Rajeev Shukla turned it down saying it was not part of the meeting’s agenda.
BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal: No States Have Yet Sent Proposal For Compensation Package
BCCI is found itself answering questions related to delay in payments to its players after a UK publication claimed that the India women cricketers are yet to receive their share of prize money from the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia where they finished runners-up.
The board quickly replied saying the prize money will be disbursed soon. That led to the issue of delay in payments to domestic cricketers coming into the limelight as well. However, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has said that the board is yet to receive a compensation package from any of the state units.
“We have to discuss with states because they have to tell us who would have played, how many matches, who would have been in reserves. None of the states have sent any proposal for the compensation package,” Dhumal told news agency PTI.
A former BCCI official and state unit veteran said it’s hard to devise a uniform formula.
“The treasurer is right. The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has announced the compensation but how do you determine which are the players who would play 8 games or 10 games in a season? The reserve players get half, so how do you compute that?” the official said.
“You can’t just give a flat amount to every player. Giving a lump sum to states is an option but how do you monitor the states?” the official added.
The Ranji Trophy compensation package is another instance of delay and devising an acceptable formula for one and all isn’t as easy and linear, Arun Dhumal admitted.
Arun Dhumal Claimed Payments For Vijay Hazare And Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Have Been Disbursed
However, Arun Dhumal did claim that the payments for Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy have been cleared. During this edition of the Indian Premier League, there were 73 uncapped Indian domestic players across eight teams (including Basil Thampi and Deepak Hooda, who have been a part of the Indian team).
These players had contracts ranging from Rs 20 lakh to nearly Rs 10 crore (Krishnappa Gowtham). However, there are around 700 others, who don’t have IPL contracts and make anything between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh in a full domestic season with maximum earnings coming from Ranji Trophy where they get a match fee of Rs 1.40 lakh.
“I can also confirm that payments for the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy have also been disbursed,” said.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in a fix after announcing the compensation for domestic players amid the pandemic-hit 2020-21 season. With around 3000 cricketers across 38 Ranji teams, including women, waiting for their compensation, BCCI does not know whom to compensate.