Indian Professional Cricketers

                                                                                                                                              23^rd Nov 2023

Remunerations & Incomes

Just recently ICC World Cup 2023 had been concluded. India’s winning run of 10 matches was ended in final but was much appreciated, thrilled every Indian Cricket supporter and at the same time also drawn flak, allegations from others. Things, allegations made against Indian Team or BCCI were very crazy, unbelievable. One can easily make out that these were made just out of jealousy or to take out anger as their favorite team not performing as per their expectation. Though it’s not the subject of this post, Listing few of them below just to enjoy once again.

• India (or BCCI) has fixed the match toss. To do this, Indian captain was tossing the coin away from opposite team captain. Indirectly it means not only Indian Captain but also Match referee and may be opponent team captain were part of it. Worth to note (or to laugh), India lost the important toss in the final game.
• It’s also said that not only the toss but the entire world cup tournament is fixed and India only will be winning the world cup. So, can we say now that India has fixed the world cup tournament for loosing in the final and then why fixing or what for?
• DRS are bugged or deliberate malfunction to help India. Everybody sitting in the stadium or through TV / OTT; watching live and hence unable to understand how India was able to manage this. Must appreciate the boundaryless imagination.
• BCCI and in turn ICC procured the different balls to be given to Indian team which were more prone for swing (how? – don’t know). Its very difficult to digest – first why ICC will do and then secondly what was the state of art in these balls to have more swing?
• Pitch for India semifinal was changed on last moment to favour India. All responsible officials including ICC has clarified that this is a normal practice and many times it happens / happened in past. But one cannot shut the mouth of peoples; they have liberty, freedom to say anything they wished to.

Above was the diversion to the post subject.

Many wouldn’t know. Earlier cricketers earning was very less. It was so less that no parent was willing or supporting their kids to pursue the cricket (for that matter, any sport). As I remember, this situation started changing after India won 1983 world cup. Even the Indian team who participated in the 1983 cricket world cup and brought the glory to India, were earning very less. So much less that nobody could afford to go out for a dinner. It’s very hard to believe their earning amounts. Though I have not verified the below information but mentioning below only to have a rough, approximate idea of team members earnings

In comparison to above approximate, let us see how much new generation, today’s (in 2023) cricketer earns. Below earning is purely from BCCI for playing cricket matches and representing India in domestic / abroad matches.

BCCI has made below 3 categories as basis for making payment to cricketers.

        • A+ category – All three formats player (Test, ODI & T20)

        • A category – All three formats, at least 2 formats, Test cricket necessary

        • B category – Two formats

        • C category – Single format player

BCCI pays Annual Salary as below based on the above categories. 

Grade A +	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C
INR 7 Cr	INR 5 Cr	INR 3 Cr	INR 1 Cr

Annual Salary is fixed based on their category. In addition to the Annual Salary, players are entitled for the match fee as follows. An Indian player has a fixed match fee of Rs 15 lakh for a Test match. For an ODI, a player earns Rs 6 lakh while he earns Rs 3 lakh for every T20I. Those who don’t make it to the playing XI draw 50% of the match fee.

Needless to mention, all expenses of travel, accommodation, incidentals while playing a match, series or tournament, are being taken care by BCCI or respective hosting board. Means match fee is straight to their pockets.

Wait, wait; this is not all. Further, BCCI pays bonus; yes, you heard right. As per laid down policy, apart from the Indian cricket players salary, every Indian cricketer would receive a reward for their individual performance for all three format matches. This reward money is not included in their match fee.

Is there any other income source for these professional Indian Cricketers? What is our guess? Yes, there are other income sources out of few are listed below:
For all the below sources fees will be in Crores.

•      Playing cricket leagues such as IPL – in India or abroad.
•     Sponsorships.
•     Brand ambassador.
•     Owning brands
•     Last but not least – Advertising

It is very clear; even after excluding / not considering the incomes from Sponsorships, Brand Ambassador, Owning brands or Advertising; todays professional cricketers earn a very good money. Keeping these facts in mind, would like to raise few points / concerns for discussions.

1) Accepting these are true professionals then alike professionals in other corporate / multinational sectors; accept the responsibility for failures. Private sectors professional is punished or fined financially for their failures. These professionals do not have an option to suggest not to take any action as it’s a part of life and he may succeed tomorrow or in future. Its least expected that after BCCI taking care so nicely and with such a wonderful pay, they should stand up and own the failures also. Same as corporate, mistakes should not be acceptable.

2) A considerable variable pay (performance allowance) should be fixed and linked to the match results. Variable pay should be same for all players (senior or junior) including non-playing (sitting on bench for a particular match / not part of playing 11). This performance allowance or variable pay to be distributed only if match is won. If lost, no performance allowance. Performance allowance amount should be considerable and to be fixed in a such a way that entire team to should get motivated and to play for it.

3) Everybody is aware that no professional in corporate or multinational is allowed to take up another full or part time assignment while working in one company. In simple words; no second source of income. Similar way, all professional cricketers should not take up any Sponsorship, Brand Ambassador, Own brands or Advertising till gets retired from all formats of cricket. Means no income source other than BCCI and BCCI approved tours & tournaments.

4) Suggest Performance Bonus scheme to be made more lucrative. Number of performance parameters and also more importantly bonus amount to be enhanced to an such extent that players should desire it. It should not be a pretty thing to avoid “if get, okay but if don’t get is also okay”.

5) More and more players to be brought under retention means under Annual Fix Pay. There has to be well laid down criteria for selection under this. It should be a motivating factor for young, upcoming cricketers and should generate a fire in stomach to earn a place in this privileged list.

6) Retainer Fee (Annual Salary) should not be same every year. Minimum annual salary should be same as last year if player meets the minimum criteria of performance during last year. But if player has performed much better, was consistent best performer, his annual salary should be more than last year. Again, not necessary that same category players should earn same salary. May be entry level can be same but subsequently it can vary based on players performance.

Please note that above are my personal views and have put forward for brainstorming, discussion. But strongly feel it needs to be discussed today or tomorrow to keep the professional cricketers competitive and to keep sport exciting.

Another amazing thing is taking / giving rest. Our all-senior players keep taking rest / break from the international cricket. After world cup 2023, India is playing T20 five match series against Australia commencing from 23rd Nov 2023. Just now understand that only 2 Indian players from the world cup squad, are playing this series whereas 6 ~ 7 Australian players from their world cup squad will be playing this series. Do understand that T20 specialist should play T20 series but it’s amazing to observe that India have only 2 players who can play ODI as well T20 whereas Australia has 6 ~ 7 players who can play ODI as well as T20. Will not discuss today, but important concern to brainstorm.

Seeing is Believing

 

In today world of very strong and powerful media and digitalization, any news spreads; gets circulated with a real, real lightning speed. Any rumor (unverified), ill news will mislead. Create panic and will be destroying the trust among peoples, neighbors, communities, religions. Peoples likes to listen; in turn believe rumors as they are mostly fiction based and are what peoples wants to read, listen. One need to verify such news before believing them. When news gets propagate without due verification, credibility of resources and very important truths are compromised. 

Rumors normally spreads panic, hate and misinformation. Rumors multiply the fear, panic, confusion at time of natural disasters which in turn activates panic button for society and individuals and poses a substantial risk to personal and public wellbeing. Constant exposure to rumors, misinformation increases individual stress levels, damage mental health and constant feeling of distrust. When arguments or opinions are based on rumors (unverified information), quality of discussion is deteriorated to the worst level and comparatively weaker participant in the discussion may destroy his confidence, self-dignity.

One of the biggest rumors or ill news stories of the last decade was the spread of false information and conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic swept across the globe in 2020 and beyond, numerous rumors, misinformation, and conspiracy theories emerged. One of major conspiracy is that virus was intentionally leaked, released from a laboratory in China. This theory still (2023) remains unverified; without any supporting evidences and hence, has to be classified as rumor. But worth to note that it has strained diplomatic relation between few countries. Another misinformation was about safety and efficiency of vaccines and more panic spreading on social media was DNA alteration. These false claims prompted peoples for vaccines hesitancy and was a major obstacle in efforts while controlling the pandemic. One can write many more pages on the ill effect of these rumors and difficulties created because of trusting unverified information.

With all these uncertainties, misleading, influencing factors, best way to depend on; is a popular TPM concept of “Seeing is Believing”. We start judging any fast-spreading news after witnessing it. One can argue that how it’s possible to witness each incident, event for deciding, understanding for firming our views and stance. But why not possible? Just as news are spread, videos of respective incident are also circulated for one to witness. But caution – one has to check and confirm the source of visuals. It could be a bit difficult but considering the extent of internet at our disposal, if we are ready for little more efforts; it’s definitely possible. 

But now, why only seeing is believing? For discussion, let us keep aside the motive of a communicator (positive or negative), it’s not possible to communicate effectively, 100% true to the heart of information even in case of excellent, expert communicator. To prove this point further, would like to quote the example once given by Yamaguchi San.

 Yamaguchi San is JIPM (Japanese Institute of Plant Maintenance) who was instrumental in introducing the concept of TPM to India. He worked personally with many organisations to help, guide them in implementation of TPM. Getting him to guide was a very costly affair and not all were to afford this. Hence, few OEMs formed the clusters of their suppliers on cost sharing basis and offered them to learn / implement TPM from Yamaguchi San.  During those days, I was working with a 1^st tier company who was a member of a such cluster. I was co-ordinating the TPM activities in addition to my main role and therefore was fortunate to get an opportunity of meeting, having interactions and learning TPM from Yamaguchi San. In one of cluster review meeting at our plant, while having lunch with top most executives of cluster member companies, Yamaguchi San initiated the discussion on “Seeing is Believing”. 

In the morning session also, Yamaguchi San was elaborating, stressing upon the importance of following “Seeing is Believing” concept. At lunch table, he continued to impress upon this concept. He continued, “other modes of communications are to a large extent, person oriented. Also, some times, will have limitation of expression, may be language barrier.” He could see that the group is not convinced and still many are having doubts. He continued, “yes, can see, many are not with me. I will give one example. It was not appropriate to give this example in the morning session.”

He said, “I am telling all of you here that my wife is beautiful. Obviously, you won’t believe and why you should? Now how to explain you, prove it to you that my wife is beautiful. If I say that she has two ears; you will tell me that all girls have two ears. If I tell you that she has two eyes; you will say what’s great, all has two eyes. If I tell you that she has a nose; so what, all has a nose. So, what should I do, how to explain, how to prove you all”.

“Instead, if you see my wife! I don’t need to explain you anything. Do I need? No need of further description. Am I right? You, yourselves can see and believe that she is beautiful. Isn’t it? This what I was trying to impress upon all of you. If you see my wife, you will believe that she is beautiful. I don’t have to explain further or spend my energy in proving it to you; simply,                                             "Seeing is Believing".