Lele criticises BCCI's cap on players' endorsements

MUMBAI: The Cricket Board's decision to limit the number of endorsements of a player drew flak from one of their former members Jaywant Lele who termed it as infringement of their fundamental right.

The former BCCI secretary said on Tuesday from Vadodara that this was a needless act by the board as non-performing players would automatically lose their sponsors.

"It's an infringement of the players' fundamental right. I don't agree with the decision to put a cap on the endorsements. If they are not doing well, they can always be dropped which would lead to the sponsors deserting them," Lele said.

But Lele supported board for demanding copies of the players' endorsement deals to be sent to them for its perusal.

He also supported the decision to introduce performance-based payment to the players and removal of graded retainers.

"I fully support BCCI vice president Shashank Manohar that there should be performance-linked payment to the players. The graded retainers also need to be abolished. All players are serving the game equally," he said.

Lele, however, expressed doubts at the board's decision to have fully paid selectors.

According to him enough support may not be forthcoming at the board's Special General Meeting when it's convened to amend the constitution suitably.