Test players get a 100 % match fee hike

INDIA'S TEST cricketers are all set for a pay hike with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) special working committee deciding to reward players representing the country in the longer format. The call to double the fees - from Rs 7 lakh per Test to Rs 15 lakh - was taken during the special working committee meeting that was called before the special general body meeting (SGM), with president Anurag Thakur proposing the move to make the traditional format a more lucrative affair for players.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Thakur said the decision was taken to sustain players' interest in the game's longest form.

“We have doubled the the match fees as we think Test cricket needs to be given priority. We have had discussions to make Test cricket popular and lucrative among the new generation. If we need to keep the players' interest in Tests alive, we'll have to ensure that Test players are better paid. We can't hide away from the trend which we are witnessing among new cricketers (being more prone towards T20 cricket)."

Thakur also said that BCCI is ensuring that the interest in Test cricket doesn't drop among the players, especially at a time when T20 cricket is ruling the roost - at least in terms of financial rewards. It's been an issue that's fast growing into a concern for boards around the world and the BCCI feels increasing the pay is the only way out.

While someone like Cheteshwar Pujara has earned Rs 7 lakh for every Test he's played, Pawan Negi got Rs 8.2 crore by playing eight matches for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL last season.

This discrepancy was discussed earlier by the board members too.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has decided to increase the pay for zonal curators, too, from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 per month. Curators at other levels will now be paid Rs 50,000 as compared to the earlier Rs 35,000.