Ranji Trophy: BCCI's Compensation Plan For Players Still Not Ready, A Year After Promise

A recent article in Britain's Telegraph revealed that the BCCI has not yet given the T20 World Cup runners-up  USD 550,000 prize money to the Indian women's team.

BCCI Logo, Photo Courtesy: AFP

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Treasurer Arun Dhumal said that the compensation promised to the country's first class cricketers after the 2020 Ranji Trophy season canceled due to the Covid-19 epidemic has not yet been given, because state units have not yet sent the necessary details.

A recent article in Britain's Telegraph revealed that the BCCI has not yet given the T20 World Cup runners-up USD 550,000 prize money to the Indian women's team. In response, the BCCI promised to give the amount this week.

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The news article also revealed excessive delays in the payment of players, irrespective of gender. Delay in Ranji Trophy compensation is also another incident that has been brought into focus. Reacting to this, Dhumal admitted that it is not so linear and easy to formulate an acceptable formula for one and all.

"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 PTI.

During this phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL), 73 uncapped Indian domestic players were associated with all eight teams, including Basil Thampi and Deepak Hooda, who were part of the Indian team.

The contracts of these players ranged from Rs 20 lakhs to around Rs 10 crore (Krishnappa Gautam). However, around 700 players do not have IPL contracts and they earn between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh for the entire domestic season, most of which comes from the Ranji Trophy in which they get a fee of Rs 1.40 lakh per match.  

"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?

"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?" asked a former BCCI official and state unit veteran.