It looks unlikely that there could be an agreement between the players and the board before the players leave for the tour of Bangladesh.
MUMBAI: The players contract issue may continue to hang fire. With reports of players’ refusal to sign on the dotted line emanating from Kolkata, where the creme de la creme of Indian cricket have assembled, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has maintained a stoic silence, but it has been reliably learnt that a meeting has been called to discuss the issue. However, it looks unlikely that there could be an agreement between the players and the board before the players leave for the tour of Bangladesh.
According to sources, the players have not submitted the papers (regarding their endorsement deals and the new Board contract drafts) which they were required to do so, and they are waiting for BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah’s visit, who is expected to be in Kolkata on Sunday. The team leaves for Bangladesh on Monday.
Asked to comment about the reports of players’ resentment, Shah, who returned to Mumbai on Thursday, prevaricated. “I’ve just landed from the West Indies and have not looked at any reports,” he told DNA. Before signing off, he reminded that the contract issue was decided by the all-powerful working committee. “It was a decision of the Working Committee. The players should have to provide copies of their endorsement contracts to the Board by now.”
The players are believed to be unhappy with the BCCI’s decision to reduce their retainership, which is now fixed at Rs 5 lakh per player (irrespective of seniors or juniors) - As was reported in DNA on May 2.
Earlier the contracted players were getting something between Rs 50 lakh to 20 lakh depending on their grades. The Board’s decision to abolish the players’ share of 26 per cent from its gross revenue has also not gone down well with the cricketers although none of them has dared come out openly against the hard decisions. As per the new performance based pay structure, the players are entitled for match fee of Rs 1.5 lakh for an ODI and Rs 2.5 lakh for a Test besides a ‘hefty’ bonus for winning.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that a meeting of the top Board functionaries will take place in New Delhi on Saturday. According to a Board official, the meeting, to be attended by president Sharad Pawar, will discuss the issue. Confirming the meeting, the official said: “We’ve not heard of any disgruntlement or resentment by the players. But we can always discuss. If required, we might put off the discussion till after the tour. In any case, the contracts have not been signed for over six months.” For the record, the fresh contracts have not been signed since October 1, 2006.
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