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With the BCCI announcing a reward of Rs 125 crore to the T20 World Cup winning Indian team, the chorus to pay pensions to those who have played 10 to 25 First-class matches is growing louder.
Former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna, who was the IPL governing council member and a member of the Indian Cricketers Association, said that the proposal has been lying with the BCCI for a long time and should be implemented very soon.
“I am given to understand that the board officials are working towards starting a pension scheme for those who have played a minimum of 10 domestic matches. The state associations are also joining hands to raise this issue. Since it has been with the BCCI for some time now, it should be cleared anytime soon,” Khanna, a key member of the Cricket Advisory Committee of the Delhi & District Cricket Association, said.
Already, those who have played between 10 to 24 domestic first-class matches have been given Rs 10 lakh one-time medical benefit, the pension scheme will boost those who served the game with utmost sinceriority.
“There are a lot of former cricketers who need this money to survive. Since BCCI has the money right now, it would be a perfect way to look after those who contributed to their state teams,” Khanna, the hero of India’s first Asia Cup win in the 1980s, suggested.
With a top domestic cricket at least making Rs 48 lakh from different tournaments in a year, BCCI could also distribute the second instalment for those who were paid one-time benefits under the aegis of former BCCI bosses N Srinivasan and Sanjay Jagdale. Why not?
For those who played over 75 matches, BCCI paid around Rs 35 lakh to every domestic cricket with an approximate amount of Rs 74 crore.
It would be the perfect icing on the cake also if the BCCI could give a Rs 10 lakh cheque to those who have played at least one Ranji Trophy match for his state if he is above 75 years of age.
Jagdale also agreed that those who have played below 25 matches should be paid. He also emphasizes the importance of the Ranji Trophy in nurturing talent and suggests that supporting domestic players through a pension scheme would further strengthen cricket at the grassroots level.
“Earlier, it was on a zonal basis, it was not their fault because of not playing beyond a certain number of matches. BCCI has done so much for cricket and since it is promoting Ranji Trophy, it will boost the system. It will be encouraging for Ranji players. They will feel that they have some support system in place. The Ranji Trophy has been the backbone of Indian cricket. Even today, the Ranji Trophy is giving so much talent,” Jagdale, the former BCCI secretary and selector, said.
For supporting domestic cricketers who may not have had extensive international careers but have contributed significantly to Indian cricket through domestic matches, this pension scheme could be a game-changer for sure!
