Massive cut in allowance money of BCCI officials

The dispute between Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and International Cricket Council (ICC) has not been sorted yet. BCCI was furious at the new finance model proposed by the ICC. They even threatened to pull out their name from the ICC Champions Trophy that will commence from 1st of June later this year. After ICC proposed a new model from which BCCI will get $100 million more than the previous amount, the BCCI officials are somewhat satisfied.

They later confirmed their participation in ICC Champions Trophy 2017. But another dispute over financial matters has begun at BCCI. Board’s officials receive $750 per day as daily allowance on foreign tours. That is a massive amount, considering the fact that players receive only $125 per day as daily allowance (DA). But then, the DA of players is over and above the match fees they get – Rs 15 lakh per Tests, Rs 6 lakh per ODI and Rs 3 lakh per T20I. Sources said the hike in officials’ DA from $500 to $750 came two years ago. The players then were paid less than $100 per day.

Not only the BCCI officials but the state association officials also receive $500 per day as DA. BCCI will pay the officials £500 per day when the BCCI officials travel to England for ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The board officials also travel in first class, while players get business class flight tickets. Hence, the BCCI officials can receive a better DA than the players, but the ratio should not be 5:1.

Officials are bewildered

But BCCI officials at furious at the decision. “Enhancement in DA came through a resolution of the general body and there nothing wrong with it. The players travel 150 days with the team and the officials only do when there is a need. The players are paid match fees and retainership fees too. This comparison is not needed,” said a BCCI official while speaking to The Times of India.

In addition to DA, when the officials travel abroad with the players, they are given Rs.30,000 to take care of food and lodge expenses. Sources reveal that there are some officials who spend Rs.2 crores per year, which the retainership fees of India’s most valuable assets like Virat Kohli. Hence, a dip in DA was justifiable to the decision-makers.