Shastri bats for steep pay hike for international players

Mumbai: Backing the reported demand of top Indian players for a steep hike in their emoluments, former India all rounder Ravi Shastri today termed as "peanuts" the increase in their payment announced by the BCCI recently.

Last month BCCI doubled the retainers for all contracted players to two crore, one crore and 50 lakh respectively for the three graded categories A, B and C.

The Board also enhanced the match fees to Rs 15 lakh, 6 lakh and 3 lakh per Test match, ODI and T20 International respectively.

Not satisfied with these revised pay structure, Shastri said "it's (what they are getting) nothing, (Rs) 2 crore is peanuts. How much is an Australian (cricketer) getting?". Greycells Education today roped in Shastri as mentor and advisor for their skill training initiatives.

Singling out top Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara who does not have a contract with any franchise team in the cash-awash IPL, Shastri said the BCCI should ensure that the Saurashtra player is not worried for not being part of the T20 league and, thus, missing out on a huge pay-out.

"The grade contracts of a Test player should be the highest. (Cheteshwar) Pujara should be the higest, at par with top players. Your A grade contracts have to be massive," said the former Indian team director here today.

"That is the best grade, where an A grade player like Pujara gets a massive amount and is not bothered whether he plays IPL or not. He will be happy and say 'I can play two months of country cricket' and go (to England)", the former Test and ODI all rounder said.

Shastri's support for another steep hike in the players' fees comes on the heels of news reports emerging that the players were unhappy even with these enhanced pay structure announced by the Board on March 22.

Their contention, according to the reports, is that the cricketers from England, Australia and South Africa were being paid much more by their respective cricket boards.