BCCI decides to pay selectors

The Board of Control for Cricket in India at its working committee meeting in Mumbai on Sunday has decided to pay an annual honorarium of Rs 25 lakh to each of five selectors of the national selection committee.

The decision will come into effect only after the annual general body meeting of the Board, which will be held at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai on September 27 and 28.

The policy of having paid selectors will be brought into effect from the new selection committee, which will be chosen after the present one completes its term on September 30.

The meeting also decided the benchmark to become a selector where only those who have played for India, or those who have played more than 25 first-class matches, would be eligible to become a senior selector. The working committee also put down another eligibility clause that the person who wants to become a selector should have retired at least ten years ago.

The meeting also made it mandatory that the selector, at the time of appointment, will not be an office-bearer of the BCCI or any of its affiliated units.

Several key decisions, including distribution of prize money to sportspersons from other games, were also taken during the meeting.

The working committee also decided to increase the BCCI's contribution to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) to Rs 50 crore from the present Rs 25 crore for the next three years. The NSDF was set up jointly by the BCCI and the Sports Ministry.

The working committee also laid down the norms for the junior and the women's selection committees. It was decided that the junior selection committee members would get an annual honorarium of Rs 15 lakh and only those, who have played for India or a minimum of 25 first class matches would be considered for appointment. The selector should have retired at least five years before he can be considered for appointment.

For the women's selection committee, the selectors would be paid an annual honorarium of Rs five lakh and only those who have played for India or played a minimum of 25 first class matches would be eligible.

The working committee also decided that the selectors who are to be considered should have retired at least five years ago.

The Board has also decided to introduce a monthly gratis scheme for retired women international cricketers, wherein those women who have played ten or more Tests will receive Rs 15,000 per month, while those who have played between five and nine Tests will receive Rs 10,000 per month.

The BCCI is also looking to promote and develop women's cricket in China and has decided to send a female cricket coach to the country. The donation of cricket equipment worth US $ 50,000 has already been finalised and the Indian High Commissioner to China will present the equipment to the Cricket Committee of China on behalf of the BCCI next month.