The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is likely to remove out-of-favour Test specialists Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma from its annual central contracts while Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav may get promotion when the list for the 2022-23 season is finalised during the Board’s Apex Council meeting on December 21.
Hardik Pandya, who is being seen as future T20 captain, is likely to get a promotion to Group B from C.
The meeting, which has 12 items on the agenda, will be held via video conference.
A review of the Indian team’s performance in the T20 World Cup and Bangladesh one-dayers is not part of the agenda but if the chairperson deems necessary, non-listed items can be considered for discussion.
In a novel gesture, the Apex Council will also ratify a one-time payment for V. Jaydevan, whose rain-rule formula is being used in domestic white-ball games for more than a decade now.
At the international level, ICC uses Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method (DLS) while VJD is used for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy and the erstwhile Deodhar Trophy and Challenger Trophy.
Changes in Central Contract
One of the major items on the agenda is “Retainership Contract” of senior men and women cricketers.
It is understood that former vice-captain Rahane and speedster Ishant, who are out of India contention, will be axed from the fresh list. Stumper-batter Wriddhiman Saha will also be axed from the list as he was specifically told at the start of the year that he won’t be selected for India again.
An A+ contracts offers Rs. 7 crore, Group A Rs. 5 crore, Group B Rs. 3 crore and Group C offers Rs. 1 to the cricketers.
There are multiple metrics used by the BCCI in consultation with national selectors to determine the gradation system.
A+ and A are two categories where the players are either all-format regulars or at least certainty in Tests along with one of the two white-ball formats. To be in Group B, a cricketer has to play at least two formats while group C is primarily for single-format players.
Also, one needs to play a specific number of international games (per format) for inclusion in the list. The promotion however is performance-based and ICC rankings are also taken into consideration.
“Surya was in Group C but his performance in the last one year warrants a promotion to Group B at least, if not A. He is currently world No. 1 in T20I ICC rankings and is a serious contender in the ODI team also,” a senior official, who is privy to the developments, told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Gill, who is now a two-format regular (Tests and ODIs) can expect a promotion from Group C to B.
Someone like Ishan Kishan, who has played considerable number of international games across two formats in 2022, is likely to enter the list.
Pandya, who has now led the national team in two T20I away series, might be included in group B after a string of consistent shows. He was demoted to Group C last year after missing a major part of last season due to a back injury.
Other items on Agenda
The BCCI will also discuss the status of two of its premier jersey sponsors - edu-tech giant BYJUs and kit sponsors MPL.
An Infrastructure sub-committee will also be formed and upgradation of five venues will also be discussed.
Appointment of consultancy firm Grant Thornton is also on the agenda list.
The venues for India’s home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand (ODIs and T20Is) and Australia (Tests and ODIs) have already been announced and it will be ratified by the Council along with the new Cricket Advisory Committee, headed by former Test cricketer Ashok Malhotra.
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