Former India cricketer Sreerupa Bose dead

KOLKATA: Former Indian women’s cricketer Sreerupa Bose died on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 65 years old. She is survived by husband Paresh Nath Mukherjee and daughter Amrita. Srirupa had played two ODIS for India against New Zealand and was also Bengal captain. She was also manager of the women’s team in three World Cups.

The Committee of Administrators (COA) agreed in principle to the demand of Indian players seeking a pay hike as well as restricting the number of days of international cricket in a year to 90 to check player burnout.

The COA head Vinod Rai met India skipper Virat Kohli, ex-skipper MS Dhoni and coach Ravi Shastri here on Thursday. “It was a fruitful discussion and the players appreciated that they are being heard unlike during previous dispensation, when it was usually a one-way traffic,” Rai told Hindustan Times before confirming that their views of a pay hike have been taken into consideration.

“It was encouraging to see the trio being considerate to midlevel players. The pyramid we are envisaging isn’t sharp and tall, it takes everyone’s demands into consideration,” he said.

BURNING ISSUE

Pay hike has been a burning issue. The Board had made it clear earlier that it will not go beyond the 26% of its revenues earmarked for players.

If the increments are done, then the Board may have to increase players’ share from the 26% or otherwise eat into domestic/junior/women players’ share which comprise half of that 26%.

If it decides on the former then revenue of state bodies will have to be reduced, something the associations and the top three board officials are against. “We have not worked out the numbers but the fact is that they are the biggest stakeholders,” added Rai.

FTP DISCUSSED

The Future Tours Programme (FTP) was also discussed. Kohli had made it clear that he’d like less international games. Both Rai and BCCI president CK Khanna had backed him.

“We have agreed to restrict the number of days of interna-