BCCI considers big pay hike in domestic cricket, players could earn INR 10 million per season

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to consider abigpay rise fordomestic players in the country to encourage participation in domestic competitions.The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkarisreportedly taskedwith suggestions onhow to implementthis idea. The players in the domestic circuit will reportedly earn INR 10 million per annum if thesuggestionsare implemented. One of the key reasons for implementing the new policy is to help playersearna significant sum who have missed out on an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract.

Domestic players to get big hike

Players playing in the IPL earn considerably more amount when compared to the Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.However,a bulk of players doesnot participate in the IPLleavingthem deprived of big cash.Sarfaraz Khan and Cheteshwar Pujara are the best examplesof itasthey earn less than players like Rahul Tewatia and Tushar Deshpande, whoareyet to make their debuts for the national side.

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The BCCI is now focusing on bridging the gap in financial terms, although itwon’tbe any closer to what players earn from the IPL. The BCCI currently pays INR 60,000 a day to a player who has played more than 40 Ranji games, INR 50,000 to those who have played between 21 and 40 games, and INR 40,000 for thosewho'vefeatured in 20 games, with the reserves earning INR 30,000, INR 25,000 and INR 20,000 in the respective categories. On thisscale of payment, a senior cricketer would be earning up to INR 25 lakh if his side reaches the finalwithothers in the side making between INR 17 lakh and INR 22 lakh.

While there is no official word on when the policy will come into effect, the BCCIis expecting itto implement it before the end of the 2024-25 domestic season.

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India legend Sunil Gavaskar had earliersuggested that fees for domestic cricketers be doubled or tripled.

"If the Ranji Trophy fees can be doubled or tripled, certainly there'll be a lot more people playing the Ranji Trophy, and a lot less pullouts from the Ranji Trophy, because if the fees of playing a Ranji Trophy match are a good fee, there will be fewer people pulling out for various reasons," the cricket legend had stated last month.