The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a significant announcement on Saturday, unveiling the “Test Cricket Incentive Scheme” to elevate the importance of Test cricket and honour consistent performances in the format.
Under this scheme, senior men’s team players who demonstrate dedication to Test cricket will receive additional match fees. Those participating in over 75 percent of Test matches in a season for India will earn an extra Rs 45 lakh per match, on top of the current Rs 15 lakh match fee provided by the BCCI.
According to officials, the initiative will be effective from the 2022-23 season and it aims to provide financial stability and growth of players.
The BCCI has allocated an additional Rs 40 crore per season for this purpose. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah expressed his satisfaction with the scheme, emphasising its role in enhancing the financial prospects of players.
Even those players not included in the playing XI but meeting the participation criteria will receive an additional match fee of Rs 22.5 lakh per match.
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This development follows recent emphasis from Shah on contracted players prioritizing domestic tournaments, notably the Ranji Trophy.
In February, the BCCI terminated central contracts for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan due to their absence from domestic cricket duties. This move underscores the BCCI’s commitment to fostering Test cricket, especially in light of the dominance of franchise-based T20 leagues.
In the 2022-23 central contract, Ishan Kishan was categorized in Group C, while Shreyas Iyer was in Group B, with earnings of Rs 1 crore and 3 crores, respectively.
Furthermore, the BCCI introduced fast-bowling contracts in the annual retainership list to ensure the national team continues to nurture new pacers and maintain the momentum in pace bowling.
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