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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah on Saturday, March 9 announced a 'Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ to help prioritise Test cricket. This announcement by the BCCI comes in order to encourage the longest format and also reward consistent performances in it after Rohit Sharma-led Team India demolished England in the five-match Test series.
“I am pleased to announce the initiation of the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ for Senior Men, a step aimed at providing financial growth and stability to our esteemed athletes. Commencing from the 2022-23 season, the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ will serve as an additional reward structure on top of the existing match fee for Test matches, set at INR 15 lakhs,” Jay Shah captioned a post on X.
Moreover, every player who features in more than 75 percent of the Tests in a season for India, will receive INR 45 Lakh additional fee per Test match and if not included in the XI, they will receive INR 22.5 Lakh incentive per match. Currently, every Test cricketer is paid INR 15 Lakh match fee. Players who appear for more than 50 percent of Test matches for India, will earn INR 30 Lakh reward per match and if not featured in the XI, they receive INR 15 Lakh per match.
This decision by the BCCI was announced after they requested the Indian cricketers to “give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team”.
While this decision came soon after the Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue demolished the England side 4-1. While the hosts lost the opening match by 28 runs in Hyderabad, they won four games on the trot to clinch the series. With a win by an inning and 64 runs in the final Test in Dharamsala, India became the first team to win a series in 112 years by 4-1 margin.
