Great news for Domestic Cricketers: BCCI announces new incentive scheme

In a watershed decision to improve domestic cricket in India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a big monetary reward for players who play the longer format of the game consistently. The board has said that any player who plays 14 first-class matches in a season will receive an additional match fee of ₹1 crore.

This decision was made at the BCCI's AGM in Mumbai and was reported by former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, a member of the Punjab Cricket Association and present at the AGM. Harbhajan said the decision will benefit domestic players, both in terms of financial security and the fact that it encourages players to commit to the rigour of first-class cricket.

"If a player plays 14 first-class matches, he will get an additional match fee of ₹1 crore. It will also be a great incentive for teams to make finals of domestic tournaments, and players will be incentivised to play as many matches as they can," Harbhajan said.

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BCCI introduces ₹1 crore reward to boost domestic cricket and support players

The initiative is viewed as a true game-changer for Indian cricket players at the grassroots level. While top-tier players abroad and those in the IPL are being well-compensated, many skilled domestic players do not have a financially rewarding contract and depend almost entirely on match fees. Cricketers like Abhimanyu Easwaran, who are not on any IPL team or BCCI central contracts, will gain the most advantage from this initiative.

The BCCI's actions demonstrate the board's commitment toward revitalizing the importance of domestic cricket, particularly the Ranji Trophy, which has historically been called the funnel for future India stars. By directly linking financial rewards to participation, the domestic tournaments will become more competitive as players will be more incentivized and serious when participating.

Aside from the new financial model, the AGM elected a new BCCI President, Mithun Manhas, a former captain of Delhi, who replaces Roger Binny. Man not only holds a wealth of knowledge and vision, but also holds over 9,700 first-class runs.

After introducing the incentive scheme, yet continuing to stay on-topic with the leadership change, the BCCI will make it clear about its intentions to empower domestic cricketers, grow competitiveness, and grow the developmental systems for India's future in cricket.