BCCI to come up with pension proposal for former cricketers, confirms Anshuman Gaekwad
Former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad, who currently is a member of the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) apex council, on Friday, (24 September) said the board is working on a solution to come up with a pension scheme for the former cricketers. This is a long-standing debate among the players of those generations from the 50s to early 80s, where cricketers got very little money in return for representing their state teams.
The ICA wants to give some pension for the players, who have played less than 25 first-class games, the pension also includes widows of cricketers who played domestic matches by mostly getting no money return.
“It was discussed in the last meeting. Sourav (BCCI president Ganguly) has assured he would come up with a proposal in the next meeting,” Gaekwad told according to Crciket.com when asked about the revision of pension for former players.
“Not increase in pension, pension also for the widows. At the moment it is 25 matches, it would come down to 10 gradually.”
Earlier the BCCI had also announced an additional 50% match fees as compensation, for domestic players, who have been badly affected due to the COVID-19 in the year 2020-21. Few domestic players whose income solely hinged on the match fees from the Ranji, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Trophy matches were financially hit. The BCCI have also hiked the payment for the upcoming domestic season 2021-22.
Anshuman Gaekwad impressed with BCCI pay hike
“It is a welcome decision. Not all good cricketers can play for India, not all can earn the same kind of money. At least now they don’t have to worry about their livelihood. A lot has already been done for domestic cricket and it is evident with the depth we have in the national team.”
This is certainly a shot in the arm for the domestic players, who now can take care of their financial situation and support their families. “We have seen COVID was there last two years and there was no cricket. Time has come and we have to carry on. We just can’t keep waiting for things to get normal. You take your precautions and get on with it.”
