BCCI to introduce contract system from SA tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Saturday a contract system for the top 20 players in the country under which they will be paid a lump sum apart from their match fees.

BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele said the 20 contracted cricketers would be classified into three categories, with the top group comprising eight players.

"The contracted players will get a lump-sum amount and bonuses apart from the match fees when they play in a series," he explained. "If they are injured and miss a series like Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar have, they will still get the lump sum, but not the match fees and bonus."

The contracts will take effect from India's tour of South Africa in October, he said.

"A committee will be formed to pick the first 20 players for the gradation system, and the new system, which was formulated by Anil Kumble, will come into effect from India's tour of South Africa, starting from October 1," Lele added.

"The contract system will be for a period of one year initially and increased to two years later," he said.

"We also discussed the gradation system for the domestic circuit with technical committee chairman Sunil Gavaskar and Kumble. Under the system, a player in the top bracket will now get Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 for Ranji Trophy league matches, Rs 15,000 for pre-quarter finals, quarterfinals and semifinals and a little more for the final," he said.

"For the Duleep Trophy it will be Rs 12,000, Rs 5,000 for Deodhar Trophy matches, and for Sponsors Trophy (previously called Wills Trophy) and Challenger Trophy it will be Rs 5,000 each," Lele added.

"The new two-tier Ranji Trophy was also discussed and it will come into effect from 2002-2003 season. Seventeen top teams in the country will be divided into two groups of nine and eight, while the last year's format will continue for 2001-2002 season," Lele said.

"Duleep Trophy will now be played (from 2001-2002) on a league basis on international venues to be monitored by the grounds committee, which will also come up for discussion during the AGM," he added.

Complete coverage of the contract system issue

Mail Cricket Editor