Cash-rich BCCI has not paid cricketers for last 7 months

NEW DELHI: The Indian Cricket Board boasts of being the richest body in the game but has not paid its players for the last seven months.

Team India members did not get their payment since the Champions Trophy in October last year. Since then, the cricketers toured South Africa, played home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka before flying to the West Indies for the World Cup without being paid.

BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla sought to play it down and said arrears would be cleared once the contracts are signed by the cricketers.

"The payments were not made because the contracts were not ready. Once the contracts are signed, everything will be cleared. This is not a problem at all," he said.

Incidentally, the players are reportedly unhappy with the present shape of the contract and doubts have been raised whether they would sign it before leaving for the Bangladesh tour.

This is, however, not the first occasion when the cash-rich board delayed payments.

Former team physio Andrew Leipus and even the then coach John Wright faced similar treatment from the board.

Senior cricketers are also unhappy that the payments have been delayed but the World Cup debacle, along with the Board's gag order, has forced them to keep a mum.