BCCI claims non-payment of Ranji Trophy compensation is state associations’ fault

After the controversy regarding the Indian Women’ team not being paid their $550,000 prize money share from the T20 World Cup 2020, where they ended up Runner’s up, the BCCI faced yet another scathing criticism for not being able to compensate nearly 700 domestic Men’s players for the cancellation of the Ranji Trophy 2020-21 due to toCovid-19. 

Clarifying on the issue, BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal said that it is not the board’s responsibility to file the invoices for each player, rather state associations do it for their players. He further explained why it became difficult for even state associations to file the invoice, as without playing any match it is hard to decide which player would sit on the bench and which one would play in the XI. The fees for playing XI member for a Ranji Trophy game is ₹1.40 lakh.

“We have to discuss with states because they have to tell us who would have played, how many matches, who would have been in reserves. None of the states have sent any proposal for the compensation package,” Dhumal told PTI.  

To clarify the matters and score some point for the board, the Treasurer specifically mentioned the payments of the limited-overs series. “I can also confirm that payments (Rs 35,000 each player) for the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy have also been disbursed,” Dhumal said. 

Another question was raised about the Gross Revenue hare that BCCI gives to all domestic players for profits made through broadcast rights of the tournaments. “We pay the GRS amounts after the accounts are settled,” Dhumal said. He then went on to explain why the players haven’t been given their share of money ever since 2016-17. “But I must tell you that since 2016-17, when the Committee of Administrators (CoA) was in operation, GRS has not been cleared."