Indian players to get Rs 15 lakh per Test

We have doubled the match fees as we think Test cricket has to be given priority: BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a big stride towards ending the pay disparity between Test and Indian Player League players.

With an aim to make Test cricket financially more lucrative and attractive, the board has doubled the pay of India players.

Such a move was speculated when reports emerged Friday evening that the board president Anurag Thakur himself hinted for a pay hike.

According to reports surfaced on Saturday, Test players will now earn double their match fees — Rs 7 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for those in the playing XI and from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh for reserves.

"We have doubled the match fees as we think Test cricket has to be given priority," BCCI president Anurag Thakur told Indian Express.

"We have had discussions to make Test cricket popular and lucrative among the new generation. If we need to keep the players' interest in Tests alive, we'll have to ensure that Test players are better paid.

"We can't shy away from the trend [of being attracted to well-paying T20 leagues] that we are witnessing among new cricketers."

The Lodha Committee had earlier asked the BCCI to put on hold any decision concerning 2016-17 till the recommendations on restructuring the board were in place.

Thus, it remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will roll back this decision on the match fees considering Lodha Panel's recommendations.