Following the dominant innings win against England at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the launch of a Test Cricket Incentive Scheme for the senior Indian men’s team. The announcement comes as India secured a resounding 4-1 series victory over the visitors, further solidifying their prowess in the longest format of the game.
I am pleased to announce the initiation of the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ for Senior Men, a step aimed at providing financial growth and stability to our esteemed athletes. Commencing from the 2022-23 season, the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ will serve as an additional… pic.twitter.com/Rf86sAnmuk
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) March 9, 2024
Commencing from the 2022-23 season, the Test Cricket Incentive Scheme aims to provide an additional financial reward structure on top of the existing match fee for Test matches, which is set at INR 15 lakhs. Under the proposed structure, players who have featured in the playing XI of more than 50 percent of Tests in a season since 2022-23 will witness their match fees double per game. The BCCI has allocated a total corpus of Rs. 40 crore for the scheme.
According to the detailed table provided by Shah, players participating in 5-6 Tests in a nine-match season will receive INR 30 lakh per match, doubling their regular match fee. Similarly, players featuring in at least 75 percent of matches in a cycle will see their salary increase from 22.5 lakh per match to 45 lakh.
The decision to introduce the Test Cricket Incentive Scheme stems from recent developments within the team, particularly concerning player commitments to domestic cricket. Notably, wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan’s decision to prioritize IPL preparation over domestic cricket prompted the BCCI to reassess the player salary structure.
India captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the significance of Test cricket and the importance of players demonstrating hunger and commitment to excel in the format. He reiterated the board’s stance on providing opportunities to players who exhibit the desire to succeed in challenging conditions, echoing the sentiment that Test cricket remains the toughest format to master.
While acknowledging the allure of the IPL, Rohit emphasized the grit and determination required to succeed in Test cricket, underscoring the value of hard work and perseverance.
