Test nations could follow India's example
By Tony Cozier
Stabroek News
April 9, 2007
In what could form as a template for others, a working committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has responded to the team's first round exit from the World Cup with comprehensive restrictions on their super-star players.
Like the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it said it would introduce performance-based payment to players while scrapping the present gradation of its retainer contracts.
The PCB last week suspended the contracts of their players, who were also knocked out in the first round of the World Cup, and announced it would replace them "very soon."
In decisions announced by secretary Niranjan Shah after a meeting on Saturday, the BCCI working committee stipulated that its players would in future be limited to no more than three endorsements of sponsors or products while each sponsor has been limited to contracting no more than two players.
The Indian players would have to seek prior approval of the BCCI before signing any endorsement contract, while submitting a copy of such agreement and of existing contracts with sponsors to the board.
Further, the players would not be allowed to undertake any sponsor-related events 15 days before a tour or during a tour.
Exclusive contracts with electronic and print media that have proliferated in recent years are now banned, with only the captain given the right to write a column or talk to the media "but not exclusively."
The BCCI's mood was pointedly reflected in its announcement that, under its rules and regulations, it was asking its most famous and feted player, Sachin Tendulkar, a demi-god to passionate Indians fans, as well as Yuvraj Singh for "an explanation" for recent comments they made to the media.
Other points announced by Shah were: *Before every tour, all the contracted players have to undergo a fitness test and only those who fulfill the benchmarks will be considered for selection.
*With a view to strengthening domestic cricket, all players will have to play a stipulated number of domestic matches when not playing for India.
*Every association will be directed to prepare fast and lively wickets for domestic tournaments.
*In the event of injury to a player, the BCCI would compensate him the match fees that he would have earned for a maximum period of six months.
*All affiliated ssociations should start their own state academies by April 2009. They would be linked to the National Cricket Academy for the purpose of uniformity in coaching.
*Regular and frequent Under-19 and India 'A' tours to be undertaken to Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies.
*The selection committee was directed to send a young team on the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh under an experienced captain. Rahul Dravid was retained as captain for India's tour to Bangladesh and Ireland and England in July to September.