Players' money safe with us, says Shah: Cricketnext

Mumbai: The BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told Cricketnext that too much should not be read into the delay in players’ payments.

"Their money is safe with us. As the contract was not finalised we could not pay them," Shah said.

He clarified that the copy of the new contract, stating the revised retainer-ship fees of Rs 5 lakhs for all the players, was issued 10 days ago. "Even new players will have to sign it. It’s a contract for the whole year," he said.

Shah was peeved when asked why the contract issue had been kept in abeyance for so long.

"This is an issue between the Indian cricketers and the Board. Our players haven’t said a word. Why should you guys (press) have a problem with it?" he shot back. He refused to commit on a last date for signing the contracts.

The Board secretary made known that the Indian team would not be entitled to 26% of the gross revenue of the Board, which was earlier distributed to them as fees and allowances. He clarified, "Revenue can go up to 40%. It would depend on Team India’s performance."

Members of Team India did not get their payment since the Champions Trophy in October last year. Apparently many senior cricketers have expressed displeasure on the Board’s stoic indifference to the matter.

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