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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 05:40 PM IST
As per the Forbes list of most valuable athletes Indian cricket's poster boy and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was ranked fifth, but he still isn't the one to receive a hefty payment from the BCCI. Other India players are not as fortunate either.
As per an Indian Express report, the proud recipients of the 'commercial accolade' are former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, the highest-paid BCCI retainers
The duo will receive an added bonus of about Rs 2 crore — Shastri in his new capacity as Director Cricket and Gavaskar, Head, IPL operations — the pair will be getting around Rs 6 crore each annually. The former cricketers have an already existing 4 crore per year contract as BCCI-endorsed commentators.
'Captain Cool' Dhoni has got Rs 2.59 crore for representing the country in 35 international matches across all formats in the last one year. This fee is inclusive of match fees as well as his Rs 1 crore retainer fee. Out of form Virat Kohli made a healthy 2.75 crore for playing 39 matches.
Shastri will continue as the Director Cricket till the conclusion of the 2015 World Cup. Shastri is believed to have accepted the offer only after BCCI agreed to provide compensation for “monetary loss” on account of lost media commitments.
As told to Indian Express, a BCCI official: “The board pays Shastri and Gavaskar Rs 4 crore annually as commentators. As per Supreme Court orders, Gavaskar will be paid an extra Rs 2.37 crore. Roughly the same will be given to Shastri.” Gavaskar has reportedly sent an invoice of Rs 2.37 crore for last IPL season.
We don't know if cricket is the real winner in all of this but Shashtri and Gavaskar surely is.
