BCCI Announce Pay Hike & COVID-19 Compensation for Domestic Cricketers

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

BCCI has reportedly offered to play two more T20Is in England next year.

(Photo: BCCI/IPL)

In what is some good news for all of India’s domestic cricketers, the BCCI have announced a pay hike and compensation for the 2020-21 season which was hit by COVID-19. The decision was taken during Monday's Apex Council meet.

Senior men’s domestic cricketers will now earn Rs 40,000 (up to 20 matches), Rs 50,000 (21 to 40 matches), and Rs 60,000 (more than 40 matches). For those in the reserves, the fees are halved. Earlier, the senior domestic men’s cricketers (playing XI) earn Rs 35,000 per match for Ranji Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy. For the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the BCCI pays players Rs 17,500 per game.

"Compensation for Ranji Trophy and Senior Women T20s (2020-21 Season) – The cricketers who participated in 2019-20 BCCI Domestic Cricket Season – will get 50 per cent match fee as compensation for season 2020-21 lost due to COVID-19 situation," a BCCI statement read.

For the women cricketers (playing XI), who were previously earning Rs 12,500, they will now be paid Rs 20,000 at the senior level. The U-23 and U-19/U-16 players have had their pay hiked from Rs 5,500 to Rs 10,000. There though isn’t a first class competition for the women in India.

Image: Aroop Mishra/The Quint

“Cricketers who participated in 2019-20 Domestic Season will get 50 per cent additional match fee as compensation for season 2020-21 lost due to COVID-19 situation #BCCIApexCouncil,” Jay Shah tweeted.

The Men's U-23 players will earn Rs 25,000 per day, hiked from Rs 17500 if they are in the playing XI, and Rs 12,500 (previously Rs 8750) if in the reserves.

For the U-19s, those who are in the playing XI, they will be get Rs 20,000 (previously Rs 10,500) and Rs 10,000 (previously Rs 5250) is for the reserves. For the Under-16s, the amounts are Rs 7000 (previously Rs 3500) and Rs 3500 (previously Rs 1750).

At the meeting it was also decided that a decision on U-16 tournaments will be taken post the U-19 tournaments and taking into account the COVID-19 situation.

India's domestic cricket season of 2021/22 will commence on September 21 with the Senior Women's One Day League and will be followed by the Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy, starting from October 27.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will kickstart on October 20 with the final to be played on November 12. Ranji Trophy, which was cancelled last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be played in a three-month window from November 16 to February 19, 2022. The Vijay Hazare Trophy will take place from February 23 to March 26 in 2022.

A total of 2,127 domestic games will be played this season across various age groups in the men's & women's category.