Hike in pay great encouragement for development of cricket: Vaidya

 

 

 

A SUBSTANTIAL rise in match fees for domestic players will not only add to financial security of players but also encourage overall development of cricket, feels former India player Prashant Vaidya. The BCCI on Monday announced that domestic cricketers affected by the COVID-curtailed 2020-21 season will be paid 50 per cent additional match fee as compensation for the disruption and also hiked their remuneration for new season. Many Indian cricketers struggled financially after the Ranji Trophy was not held last year for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BCCI compensation package for these players was awaited for a long time. The decision to give compensation and increase the match fee was taken during the BCCI’s Apex Council meeting on Monday. “It is definitely a very good news and will act as a good encouragement for players. After all, financial security is very important for players because of their limited tenure.

 

This kind of compensation will encourage players and will also help them grow in confidence. It is the same for budding cricketers. It will also improve competition. Combined with the ever improving infrastructure, the level of cricket will also improve,” said Vaidya, Chairman, Cricket Administration and Development Committee, Vidarbha Cricket Association, while sharing his views with ‘The Hitavada’. Vaidya, also Vice-President, VCA, was happy for junior cricketers. “Junior level is very important...that is where dilemma lies for players as well as the parents. They are not sure whether to purse sports or look somewhere else for a good career.

 

It is very important that they get some security at this stage. Some earnings at junior level will bring lot of confidence and positivity in the players,” Vaidya said. Vidarbha Ranji skipper Faiz Fazal, who has been advocating for compensation to players for the lost season, also welcomed BCCI’s move. Mohit Kale, who made his Ranji debut in 2019-20 season while still leading the Vidarbha Under-23 side, was delighted with the news. “It is a very good news. We did not get anything from last one and a half year. 23-24 is a very critical age. People start earning at that age and if cricketers are paid well, more will look to it as a career. BCCI has shown that they really care for players of all age group. One lakh per game is a decent money (for one U-23 four-day match),” said Kale who returned about a week ago after playing his maiden county season in England.

 

The per day fee for the top Ranji cricketers, who have played more than 40 matches, was also almost doubled to Rs 60,000, which will ensure that such players earn Rs 2.40 lakh per First-Class match. Those who have played 21 to 40 matches will be paid Rs 50,000, while players with experience less than that will be entitled to a remuneration of Rs 40,000 per day. The move will likely benefit more than 2,000 male cricketers from the Under-16 to the senior level. The BCCI also announced remuneration for women cricketers and the senior players will now be paid Rs 20,000 per match instead of Rs 12,500.