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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 27 April 2024

Cricketers cry for dues, CAB cries for funds

The ongoing turmoil in the BCCI is taking its toll not just on its member units, but on cricketers as well

Sayak Banerjee Calcutta Published 25.07.19, 08:24 PM
Ranji Trophy

Ranji Trophy (Wikipedia)

The ongoing turmoil in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking its toll not just on its member units, but on cricketers as well, particularly those in the domestic space, sources told The Telegraph.

Several Bengal senior team players, for example, haven’t been paid their dues for the 2018-19 season, despite playing in the three major competitions — Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.

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The Bengal players also claimed they haven’t yet received the portion they are entitled to get from sponsorship, which the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has to fork out.

“Last season, we didn’t get the fees despite playing in all the three tournaments. Besides, we are yet to receive some arrears of the previous seasons,” a current player told The Telegraph on condition of anonymity.

“We do understand that the prevailing situation in the Board has led to problems and other issues. But what about the money we are supposed to get from sponsorship? Why aren’t we getting that? That payment is the CAB’s responsibility.

“What’s happening is very unfortunate,” he said.

Some senior Bengal cricketers are learnt to be irked mainly because of their sponsorship fee dues. “We hope the crisis gets resolved soon. It’s becoming extremely difficult for us players,” said a senior cricketer.

“As far as we know, players from some other states are getting their dues. So why aren’t we getting,” said another senior cricketer.

CAB joint secretary Avishek Dalmiya, however, gave an assurance that the players’ dues would be cleared.

“We’ll definitely clear the dues of the players. Each and everyone will get their share,” he said.

Dalmiya put the onus on the BCCI. “Look, matters have become complicated as we haven’t been receiving the grants and subsidies from the BCCI for the last three years. We are paying our affiliated units and clubs from our fixed deposit.

“As a result, our fixed deposit reserves have diminished a fair bit. Till the BCCI’s annual general meeting takes place, we are not sure if the flow of grants and subsidies will resume,” he explained. The BCCI AGM is scheduled on October 22.

The CAB, it emerged after Wednesday’s finance committee meeting, has already incurred a loss of Rs 28.5 crore for the 2018-19 financial year.

But some others questioned Dalmiya’s explanation. “What the CAB and other state associations are not getting from the Board is only the amount from TV rights,” claimed a representative of an affiliated unit, who spoke under cover of anonymity. “How can subsidies and other grants be a part of that?”

All these issues are expected to be discussed in the CAB special general meeting slated to be held on July 31.

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