BCCI introduces financial incentives for Test cricketers; India players to be rewarded for prioritising red-ball cricket

According to the scheme, players who feature in at least 75 per cent of Test matches in the annual cycle stand to earn Rs. 60 lakh per Test match.

The scheme adds an additional reward structure to the existing match fee for Test matches.  | Photo Credit: AFP

Days after excluding two top cricketers from its annual retention list, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced an incentive scheme for India’s men’s Test cricketers.

According to the scheme, players who feature in at least 75 per cent of the Test matches in the annual cycle stand to earn Rs. 60 lakh per Test match.

While Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, announced the initiative through his personal social media handle on Saturday afternoon, president Roger Binny through a BCCI statement hailed it as an attempt to ensure Test cricket’s position as the pinnacle of the sport.

“We are thrilled to introduce the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme,’ reaffirming our dedication to the well-being and encouragement of our senior men cricketers. This initiative aligns with our vision of promoting Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport,” Binny stated.

With the new scheme, A player who plays at least 75 per cent of India’s Test matches in its annual cycle treated from October to September will earn a whopping Rs. 45 lakh per match in addition to the Test match-fees of Rs. 15 lakh.

The players who feature in the 50-75 per cent games bracket will earn a bonus of Rs. 30 lakh per match. The non-playing members – if selected in the squad – will be paid half the amount.

Shah added that the statement will underline the importance of Test cricket and cricketers. “It is a recognition of the unique challenges and demands that Test cricket poses, and through this initiative, we seek to not only reward excellence but also cultivate a renewed passion for the purest form of the sport,” he said.

Sportstar understands that the BCCI – having realised that Indian cricketers, established and aspiring, having been swayed by the lures of the Indian Premier League (IPL) riches, had been thinking of devising a mechanism.

The new scheme will ensure even Test specialists without an IPL contract will be able to earn at par along with top IPL cricketers.