Reports: Performance-based variable pay structure for players discussed in Border-Gavaskar Trophy review meeting

The Indian team recently suffered a 1-3 defeat in the five-match Test series against Australia to relinquish the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years. This was India's second consecutive Test series defeat. They were beaten by New Zealand at home by a 0-3 margin before they embarked on the tour of Australia.

On Saturday, December 11, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held a meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai to review the team's performance against Pat Cummins and Co. Indian captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chairman of senior selection committee Ajit Agarkar attended the meeting.

According to a report from The Indian Express, one of the suggestions made at the meeting was to introduce a performance-based variable pay structure for the players. The motive behind this structure is to make sure that players are more “accountable” and, if warranted, face a pay cut based on their performance. The system is said to be formulated along the lines of how corporate companies give appraisals to their employees annually.

As per the suggested system, if the performance falls short of expectations, a player’s earnings will take a hit. “It was one of the suggestions given that players should be held accountable and if their performance is deemed not fit as per expectations, they should face variable pay-cuts,” a source said.

Also Read: Reports: Gambhir, Agarkar at loggerheads on India Test captaincy proposition

Another issue discussed in the meeting was that some players were not giving too much importance to red-ball cricket and “lacking intent” for it. These players were more interested in the two limited-overs formats.

“There was discussion whether the current players were a bit indifferent when India loses a Test match. The team management understands the value of Test cricket but many players don’t give too much importance to it,” the source said.

India will start their new WTC campaign in June

Meanwhile, speaking of Team India, they will not play a Test series till June when they are scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom to face England. They were knocked out of the race to the World Test Championship final after losing to defending champions Australia.