The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to extend a 'porter allowance' to the senior cricketers to spare them the bother of minding their luggage when they tour overseas.

The newest allowance for the already pampered cricketers comes after a write-up by Sunil Gavaskar in his personal column wherein he referred to the Indian cricketers' botheration of carrying their own luggage on foreign soil.

Though in India they don't have to collect and tow their luggage, the Indian cricketers don't receive the same treatment while touring overseas. However, when foreign teams visit India, they are accorded a royal treatment and willing porters are found a dime a dozen.

BCCI sources here said the porter allowance proposal came from the Indian team manager for the New Zealand tour Nathu Ram Chaudhury. The board agreed readily to ensure players are not stressed or injure themselves ahead of the World Cup.

However, porters at international airports are a rarity, and it is not known how and where they can be managed from for the Indian cricketers.

The manager, who now gets an entertainment allowance, will be allowed an extra sum under the head of porter charges. It will be a one-time payment at the end of the tour on January 16.

It is not yet known if the porter allowance will become a regular feature or is just for the New Zealand tour.