India’s top cricketers are set to finally be paid the incremental retainers which was awarded to them by the BCCI’s CoA (Committee of Administrators) three months ago.
The CoA had introduced a new A+ grade contract in addition to the previously existing grades in March this year. The new A+ grade contracts were awarded to five players – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. According to the contract, the five players will receive an annual retainer of $1million.
The new grading system was meant to come into effect for the 2017-18 season. However, according to a report by India Today, the new contracts were yet to be endorsed by the board secretary as late as Friday despite the players signing it much earlier.
The players had reportedly approached the board for clarity on the situation and their pending payments.
The state units of the BCCI met in New Delhi on Friday for a Special General Meeting (SGM) where the matter was taken up for discussion and finally passed.
Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar are among the top earners in the new system.
The Supreme Court appointed CoA ,which was set up to oversee the day-to-day workings of the BCCI, was the brains behind the new grading system and had warned the BCCI that they would enforce the contracts if they were not ratified by Friday.
“The players have signed new contracts and it has been sent to the secretary in person and multiple reminders given. We will wait till Friday. If the secretary still does not sign it, COA will ensure the players get their money,” CoA member Diana Edulji had told India Today earlier.
Friday’s SGM had did not have the required go ahead from the CoA and as such, it remains to be seen if the committee implements the resolutions passed by the board in the meet.
“Despite doubts, the SGM has taken place. All resolutions have been passed by the General Body unanimously,” BCCI acting secretary Amithabh Choudhary was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India after the SGM.
“The General Body of the BCCI has authorised me to sign the players’ contracts. It has also resolved to consider proportionate increase in the remuneration of the domestic players, both and men and women. Not only the absolute amounts but also related to the gross revenue of the BCCI,” he added.
