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Windfall for Test cricketers: BCCI ponders on salary hikes for star players
Currently, each of India`s Test cricketers receives Rs 7 lakh per match.
New Delhi: India's Test cricketers are in line for salary hikes as the BCCI president Anurag Thakur informed board members about a possible renewal on Friday.
According to a report in the Times of India, Thakur told board members during BCCI's Special General Meeting (SGM) that they would discuss an increase in payments for Test cricketers, which is up for renewal. (ALSO READ: BCCI misses first deadline to implement Lodha reforms; Special General Meeting adjourned)
Currently, each of India's Test cricketers receives Rs 7 lakh per match. This is beyond the players retainer fee and other entitlements eligible under the central contract.
Players in grade A gets Rs 1 Crore, Grade B gets Rs 50 lakh and Grade C gets Rs.25 lakh a year.
India are currently playing New Zealand in a three-match Test series. The series commenced a long Test season at home, with India hosting England, Australia and Bangladesh after Kiwi series.
The home season will include 13 Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is; 13 Tests. And it will equal the record for the highest number of home Tests in a season for India. The 1979-80 season also witnessed 13 matches played in India. (ALSO READ: BCCI made refunds to suspended IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals)
For the record, it is a world record for the number of Tests in a home season.
The report also claimed that the BCCI is expected to take a formal call on the payment of the various pitch curators.
The SGM was however adjourned on technical grounds, thus missing the first deadline to implement the Lodha Committee recommendations.
Faced with the possibility of losing its entire top brass, including President Anurag Thakur, the BCCI was to discuss the road ahead at the SGM after the Supreme Court warned the cricket board on Wednesday to either "fall in line" or face the music. (ALSO READ: PCB seek ICC intervention after losing $100 million following India's refusal for bilateral series)
The Board had been given deadline until Friday to implement the first set of reforms, requiring the adoption of a new Memorandum of Association and Rules.
However, the meeting to discuss the matter had to be put off until Saturday after some of the BCCI's member units turned up without the requisite letters of authorisation.