Kumble proposes 150 percent hike for Grade A players

Indian coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli have asked for a pay hike for the players, while Kumble requested a hike for the support staff as well.

Coach Anil Kumble also asked for a favourable raise for all the support staff of the team, including himself, batting coach Sanjay Bangar, fielding coach R Sridhar, physio, trainer, video analyst and throwdown specialist.

Chief coach Anil Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli today suggested a massive hike to the tune of 150 percent for Grade A players in the Central Contracts and a substantial raise for the support staff.

In Hyderabad, Kumble gave a detailed presentation to the Committee of Administrators (COA) along with BCCI office-bearers: CEO Rahul Johri, joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary. The Indian captain, Kohli, was not in Hyderabad and interacted with the panel separately via Skype.

As of now, Grade A players get Rs 2 crore, Grade B Rs 1 crore and Grade C Rs 50 lakh. As per reliable sources, both Kumble and Kohli felt that players in Grade A, who are certainties in all formats, should be paid in the range of Rs 5 crore for one season.

Vinod Rai and Vikram Limaye heard what Kumble and Kohli had to say and have instructed the BCCI office-bearers to take note of Kumble’s presentation. It will be Johri, Amitabh and Aniruddh, who will now decide on the rationale of demands. They will prepare a report and then COA will take a final call in this regard.

“Although Anil and Virat spoke separately, both stressed on the fact that performers in Test cricket should be kept in the highest bracket. Also there is someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, who is not getting IPL contracts whereas someone like Pawan Negi, who doesn’t even play Ranji Trophy gets Rs 8.5 crore for 45 days. That’s something that needs to be worked out,” a senior BCCI source in the know of things told PTI today.

It was learnt that Kumble also gave a detailed presentation, asking for a favourable raise for all the support staff of the Indian team. It includes Kumble himself, batting coach Sanjay Bangar, fielding coach R Sridhar, physio, trainer, video analyst and throwdown specialist (Raghavendra).

“I won’t quote the figure but it’s a substantial raise that Kumble has demanded for himself also. Now, while raising the issue of players, whether it was prudent on Kumble’s part to demand hike for support staff of which he is a direct beneficiary is a question,” an official questioned.

Kumble’s contract expires at the end of India’s Champions Trophy campaign but he is likely to continue till end of West Indies tour. His contract will come up for renewal before the Sri Lanka series.

While there is a section in BCCI which is not at all happy with Kumble’s role in the whole Central Contracts issue, it will not be an easy task to remove him as it would need the nod from the COA.