The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is deemed as the world’s richest cricket governing body, and the players of the national team bag a hefty sum of money. Local players having contracts in the Indian Premier League (IPL) also have a healthy bank balance. However, the case wasn’t the same for the First-Class cricketers. Many players opened up about their financial issues after BCCI halted the domestic cricket competitions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
BCCI has announced the return of Domestic Cricket in India, for the imminent 2021-22 season. The season will initiate on September 21, 2021, with the Senior Women’s One Day League and will be accompanied by the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy, from October 27, 2021.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will begin on October 20, 2021, with the final to be contested on November 12, 2021. The coveted Ranji Trophy, which was removed last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be played in a three-month window from November 16, 2021, to February 19, 2022. The Vijay Hazare Trophy will take place from February 23, 2022, to March 26, 2022. A total of 2127 domestic games will be played this season across several age groups in the men’s & women’s categories.
“The BCCI is assured of hosting the domestic season with the health and safety of players and all people involved remaining supreme,” assuring the public in the press release.
In addition to this, if reports to be believed the First-Class cricketers in the country are anticipated to see a hike in match fees from the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
As per reports, top BCCI officials – President Sourav Ganguly, Secretary Jay Shah, Vice-President Rajiv Shukla, and Treasurer Arun Dhumal, recently elected to increase the match fees of all Indian domestic cricketers.
Notably, the First-Class cricketers in India haven’t been paid since the last season due to the global pandemic. Hence, this hike in the match fees will be a great assistance for all of them. The players are entitled to receive INR 35,000, and INR 17,500 for each Vijay Hazare and Mushtaq Ali matches.