BCCI gives Indian domestic cricket a big facelift!

 Not often does one see the Indian domestic cricket being discussed a length in any of the cricketing board’s meetings, but BCCI has given two hoots to tradition and embraced Indian domestic cricket like never before.

Domestic cricket got a huge leg-up with the Indian cricket control board’s working committee approving a slew of specifically-targeted significant decisions. The committee, which met in Mumbai on Thursday, has announced a massive hike in prize money for the Ranji Trophy for the coming season besides clearing the decks for ex-Indian Cricket League players’ participation in the Indian Premier League next year.

The Ranji champions will now receiving Rs 2 crore, Rs 1.4 crore more than what Mumbai got for clinching the title for the 38th time last season. The runners-up will get Rs 1 crore and the losing semifinalists Rs 50 lakhs each. 

The best part is that the revision, this time round, is not just restricted to tournaments — it includes match officials as well. The umpires officiating in domestic matches will be paid Rs 7,500 per match day from the coming season, while umpire’s coaches and match referees will be paid Rs 10, 000 per match day.

And something to improve the standard of umpiring too. The committee has decided to set up specialised coaching centres in Mumbai (batting), Mohali (fast bowling) and Chennai (spinners and wicketkeepers) from September. Specialist coaches will be appointed on an annual retainership at each of these centres.

Now for the news which will warm the hearts of all the rebel ICL stars. “The ex-ICL players who have been granted amnesty are eligible to play the IPL in the next season (2010) with a cap on the payment being a maximum of Rs 20 lakh,” BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said. However, players against whom match-fixing charges had been levelled by the ICL, notably ex-international Dinesh Mongia of Punjab, would not be allowed to take part in the cash-rich event. In another important decision, the panel has decided to give the All India Football Federation a sum of Rs 25 crore spread over two years “for the development of football” in the country.

These decisions of the BCCI shows the intent to reach out to the masses and giving a helping hand to the Football association certainly has sent the right signals to every cricket board across the orb…