From next season, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will pay its Ranji Trophy cricketers match fees on par with what they get from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Match fees paid by BCCI is between Rs 40,000 and Rs 60,000 per day depending on the number of games a cricketer has played. The MCA will match this, which means a Mumbai player will get fees from the BCCI as well as the state association.
State associations pay players only daily allowance for domestic games, so the MCA’s decision is a game-changer in terms of money a state-level cricketer will earn from Ranji Trophy.
The decision was taken during the MCA’s Apex Council meeting held on Saturday, MCA president Amol Kale told The Indian Express.
“MCA will be paying additional match fees per Ranji Trophy game to each player from next season onwards. For example if a new player is earning Rs 40,000 per day from the BCCI then MCA will pay them Rs 40,000 too. We felt that players should earn more, especially those who play Ranji Trophy cricket. For us red-ball cricket matters the most as Ranji Trophy holds a special place for everyone in Mumbai,” Kale said.
The BCCI has revised match fees post Covid 19. Players who have played between 1 and 20 Ranji Trophy matches are now paid 40,000 per day. Those who have played 21 to 40 matches get Rs 50,000 per day and those with 41 or more games under their belts get Rs 60,000 per day.
Mumbai won their 42nd Ranji Trophy title earlier this month when they defeated Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium.
It is learnt that MCA will have to shell out around Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore annually for Ranji Trophy match fees.
There is a big pay disparity between IPL players and those who play only for their state teams.
Mumbai opener, Bhupen Lalwani, who was part of Mumbai’s Ranji-winning team, got Rs 17.20 lakh for playing 10 first-class matches. In contrast, the lowest base price for a player at the last IPL auction was Rs 20 lakh. If Mumbai reach the final of next season’s Ranji Trophy, a rookie player will earn about Rs 34 lakhs, the MCA has calculated.
MCA secretary Ajinkya Naik said that the initiative received unanimous support from the Apex Council.
“The MCA recognises the pivotal role that the Ranji Trophy and red ball cricket play in shaping the future of our sport. By aligning with BCCI’s fees and providing additional support, the Apex council aims to create a conducive environment for young cricketers to excel and hone their skills. This initiative reaffirms MCA’s commitment to promoting the rich legacy of Indian cricket and nurturing the talents of tomorrow,” Naik said.
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