Sourav Ganguly urges BCCI to revise salaries of domestic cricketers

Indian cricket is going through a dream patch for last year and a half and the reason is believed to be the consistent performance from the players’ both at domestic as well as International level. Interestingly, Former Indian cricketers are trying their level best to take it to a higher echelon. On Tuesday, former Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider a substantial pay hike for domestic cricketers plying their trade in the Ranji Trophy.

Ganguly urged BCCI to consider pay hike for domestic cricketers

In a BCCI technical committee meeting held in Kolkata, Ganguly spoke extensively about the subject mentioned and tried to keep the same in best way possible. A BCCI technical member told PTI that, “Ganguly enquired as to what all issues were raised at Ranji Captain and Coaches’ Conclave in Mumbai. He was informed that all captains spoke about match fee hike in domestic tournament which has been an issue.”

Source further mentioned that Dada advised the BCCI to revise the current match fees of domestic cricketers so that they can feel secure and serve Indian cricket for a longer stint.

“When he was told that an average Ranji cricketer earns Rs 10 lakh for a season, he said that it is very less. Dada’s argument was not all domestic players have jobs. Therefore a lot of talented cricketers become insecure if they are injured or out of the team,” the official said.

Harbhajan Singh, first one to put the issue in limelight

It was learnt that the members present in the meeting found it pragmatic and will give it a thought in coming days. Also, Indian off spinner, Harbhajan Singh was the first one to put the issue in limelight.

Harbhajan wrote a letter to former coach Anil Kumble describing him about the plight faced by domestic cricketers and urged him to take it forward to the members concerned. However, Kumble didn’t make any mention about domestic cricketers in his vision document.

Lastly, there is a possibility that BCCI will hike match fees as they are expecting a windfall from IPL broadcast rights which eventually will help them to revise the salaries.