Sports

BCCI’s Jay Shah Announces ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ To Encourage Test Cricket Priority

March 9, 2024
Bharat Times

Moments after India secured victory over England in the 5th IND vs ENG Test at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium on March 9 (Saturday), the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, announced on social media a hike in Test match fees under the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’.

Jay Shah has introduced the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ to acknowledge and reward Indian players who prioritise the red-ball format and consistently make themselves available to represent the country in the longest format of the game. 

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah taking to X (formerly Twitter), suggested that this initiative aims to offer financial stability and growth to Indian athletes. Starting from the 2022-23 season, the scheme will provide additional rewards on top of the existing match fee for Test matches, which is set at INR 15 lakhs.

“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 reward structure on top of the existing match fee for Test matches, set at INR 15 lakhs,” said Jay Shah in the post.

Here’s Jay Shah’s Tweet

Proposed Structure For ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’

As per the proposed structure, in ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme,’ players appearing in the playing XI for more than 50 percent of Tests (assuming 9 Tests) in a season from 2022-23 will see a doubling of their match fees per game. Players participating in seven or more Tests within a season will receive a match fee of Rs 45 lakh. Non-playing members will be awarded Rs 22.5 lakh per match. For those playing five or six Tests in a season, the match fee will be Rs 30 lakh, and non-playing members will receive Rs 15 lakh.

Coming to the recently concluded India vs England 5th Test match of the five-match series, India defeated England by an innings and 64 runs in Dharamsala on Saturday. After bowling India out for 477 early in the morning of Day 3, England found it hard to bat against the Indian spinner and barring Joe Root, no batter could cross the 40-run mark in England’s second innings. R Ashwin claimed a fifer with his last wicket being Joe Root who was well set on 84. England were bowled out for mere 195 runs in 48.1 overs. With this win India won the series by 4-1, staging a remarkable turaround after being 0-1 down after the first IND vs ENG Test in Hyderabad.