On Saturday, the secretary of BCCI, Jay Shah, announced an incentive scheme for cricketers who played in the most extended format of Cricket in India. Jay Shah took to Twitter after the victory of team India in the shift and final test match of the five-match test series against England to announce this fantastic incentive scheme.
The incentive is seen as an attempt on the part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India to attract players to play the longest and traditional format of the game, especially after many Indian players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan refused to take part in domestic Cricket. However, this incentive will be provided on top of the match fees earned by players for playing in a test match and will be applicable from the season 2022-23.
While announcing this incentive scheme, Jay Shah wrote, “I am pleased to announce the initiation of the incentives scheme in Test cricket for senior men, a step aimed at providing financial growth and stability to our esteemed athletes. Starting from the season 2022-23, this test cricket incentives scheme will act as an additional reward structure on top of the existing match for test matches set at INR 15 lakhs.”
Also Read: 3 Bowlers who took 500 or more wickets in T20s
According to the incentive chart posted by Jay Shah on X, previously known as Twitter, cricketers who play or are selected for more than 4 test matches in a 9 match season, which is less than 50%, will be eligible for the incentive.
Players who will play a minimum of 7 or more test matches that is, 75% or more in a nine-match season, will receive a whopping sum of Rs 45 lakh per match from the BCCI as a part of its incentive scheme. At the same time, Indian players who are part of the Squad for seven games or more will earn around 22.5 lakh per match.
Cricketers who are part of the team playing 11 for 5 or 6 test matches in a 50% or more season will also be given a sum of 30 lakh per match. For cricketers who will be part of the Squad for 5 or 6 test matches in a season, the sum has been set at rupees 15 lakhs per match, whereas the cricketers who are part of four test matches or less are not eligible for any incentive under this scheme.
The move comes in the week of a BCCI directive last month that asked the cricketers of India to give importance to participating in domestic Cricket during periods when they are not representing the National Cricket Team.