The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a substantial hike in the match fees for domestic cricketers of all categories for the upcoming season. Decisions regarding pay hike was taken in its 9th Apex Council Meeting which was held via video conference today.

It was also decided that domestic cricketers affected by the COVID-curtailed 2020-21 season would be paid a 50 percent additional match fee as compensation for the disruption. Since the Ranji Trophy was not held last year, for the first time in the history of tournament, BCCI decided to compensated the domestic cricketers who suffered financially.

For the upcoming season, first XI players in Ranji Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments, who have played more than 40 matches, will get Rs 60,000 per day, which is Rs 25,000 more than the current fee of Rs 35,000 per day. This means that such players will earn Rs 2.40 lakh per first-class match.

Those who have played 21 to 40 matches will be paid Rs 50,000, while players with experience less than that will be entitled to a remuneration of Rs 40,000 per day. This will help more than 2,000 male cricketers in the country from the under-16 to the senior level.

For T20 matches, the fee has been increased by 50 per cent for respective category. As per existing rate, the BCCI has been paying Rs 17,500 per game for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.  While these are the figures for playing members, reserves will be paid half.

BCCI also announced that cricketers in the under-23 and under-19 category will get Rs 25,000 and 20,000 per day respectively. Earlier, they were getting Rs 17,500 and Rs 10,500 per day respectively. For under-16 player, the fee per day has been increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 per day.

The board too announced remuneration for women cricketers and the senior players will now be paid Rs 20,000 per match instead of Rs 12,500. The under-23, under-19 and under-16 women cricketers will now receive Rs 10,000 per day in place of Rs 5,500.