Fri. Jan 31st, 2025

BCCI Plans Pay Cuts for Underperforming Indian Players

This concept of directly linking the pay of players with their on-field performance is becoming increasingly popular in Indian cricket management. This move comes after a rather disappointing series of Tests from the team, especially against New Zealand and Australia. The BCCI is going to look at a more corporate-style pay structure wherein players would be penalized monetarily for not being good enough. A part of the larger initiative would be to keep the players on their toes as far as Test cricket is concerned.

Introduction of Performance-Based Pay Cuts

Sources show that the BCCI is keen on a system where players would be rewarded for good performances but also penalized for poor ones. The whole concept is to establish a performance-based environment, wherein players would be able to gain more money depending on their contribution and could lose some in case of underperformance.

A source quoted by The Indian Express mentioned, “It was one of the suggestions given that players should be held accountable, and if their performance is deemed not fit as per expectations, they should face variable pay-cuts.”

The Current Performance-Based System

While the idea of pay cuts is still in the discussion phase, the BCCI has already implemented a performance-based incentive system.

The players who play a Test match over 50 percent of the tests played in all Tests since Test matches in season 2022-23 get an incentive award of ₹ 30 lakh.
In case a cricketer performs more than or equal to 75% of tests during the year, then it offers ₹ 45 lakh in compensation.

This system was designed to motivate players to participate in Tests, especially when T20 leagues like the IPL and Big Bash League dominate the cricket calendar. The BCCI wants to ensure that players don’t prioritize the lucrative white-ball formats over the traditional Test format, which has often been sidelined in recent years.

Why Is the Focus on Test Cricket?

Sources confirm that the team’s management is greatly worried that the players are not giving Test cricket their full interest. While the team management does understand the essence of Test cricket, it is still believed that many players are giving importance to white-ball formats, which results in indifferent performances in the longest format.

Indifference to Test Cricket: Team management feels players prioritize white-ball formats over Tests.
Concern about Test Performance: India’s recent Test losses have raised alarms about players’ focus.

“There was discussion whether the current players were a bit indifferent when India loses a Test match. The team management understands the value of Test cricket, but many players don’t give too much importance to it,” the report quoted an anonymous source.

BCCI's Response to the Concerns

The Indian team management has urged the BCCI to address this issue by ensuring that the next generation of cricketers values the Test cap over a white-ball career.

Moreover, the BCCI is reportedly reviewing the entire structure of player compensation to include a mix of rewards and penalties. The aim is to establish a balance between incentivizing strong performances and holding players accountable for their shortcomings.

Impact of the New System

The introduction of performance-based pay cuts will have far-reaching consequences for Indian cricketers. If implemented, it could lead to a shift in the way players approach their game. With the added pressure of potential pay cuts, players will be more motivated to perform consistently across all formats, including Test cricket.

Shifting Approach: Players will feel more motivated to perform well across all formats.
Enhanced Accountability: Players will have to show consistent performance to avoid financial penalties.

This new idea also can guide the Indian team management to discern those players who are serious about the game and would like to improve their skills in the team’s interest. Regular underperformers may be subjected to further scrutiny and pay cuts compared to their high-performing peers, while high performers may benefit from better incentives.

Conclusion

As suggested by BCCI’s plans, trimming underperforming players’ salaries would be a bold move commencing a new era in Indian cricket. The board aims to link performance with monetary gains and penalties so that the players may feel more responsible and accountable.

As the Indian cricket team continues to evolve, the BCCI is determined to ensure that its players remain focused on excelling in all formats, especially Test cricket. Whether the new system will be effective remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – performance will no longer go unaccounted for.