“The domestic match fee structure will witness an over 200% hike”. That’s a claim in the BCCI statement, issued on the instructions of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Wednesday while announcing the much-delayed player contracts for 2017-18.
In reality, however, the announcement would only serve as a change in mechanism and not result in much of a pay-hike when it comes to the actual income of domestic cricketers who ply their trade in various inter-State tournaments.
At present, the BCCI pays domestic cricketers in two instalments. While ₹10,000 per match day is paid on a match-by-match basis, the remaining — calculated on a pro-rata basis based on the share from the BCCI’s gross revenue share (GRS) after the annual accounts are ratified in the AGM — is paid just before the start of the next season.
Since the GRS is directly proportional with the amount of international cricket played on the Indian soil in a year, the share of domestic players varies from year to year. Over the last decade, however, it has never fallen below ₹25,000 per match day.
In fact, considering the BCCI would have earned around ₹1,100 crore and ₹1,000 crore from the broadcaster for 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively, the total daily amount paid to domestic cricketers would be between ₹35,000 and ₹40,000 per match day. Since the AGM has not been held for two years, the accounts have not been ratified and the amount is yet to be disbursed.
Eyewash
“In a way, the 200% hike is nothing but an eyewash. Players will continue to earn the same, just that they will be paid up front rather than waiting for the accounts to be ratified,” said a BCCI insider.
However, the CoA thinktank differs with this view. While CoA chairman Vinod Rai refrained from commenting, a source close to the CoA stressed that the new system will be effective. “Over and above the fixed match fee of ₹35,000, the GRS share will also be passed on to the domestic cricketers wherever applicable,” he said.
Senior cricketers are not impressed. Wasim Jaffer, the nine-time Ranji Trophy winner, feels the BCCI should raise the match fees more. “It’s a welcome step but not an ideal one. The need of the hour is a steeper hike,” the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy told The Hindu on Thursday.
While the CoA has revised the match-fee structure for domestic cricketers, the BCCI panel umpires, scorers, video analysts and curators are kept waiting for a revision in remuneration.