BCCI announces compensation for domestic players affected by 2020-21 cancellations

The BCCI on Monday announced 50 per cent additional match fee for domestic cricketers affected by cancelled tournaments in the 2020-21 season and a hike in their remuneration for the upcoming season.

"Cricketers who participated in 2019-20 Domestic Season will get 50 per cent additional match fee as compensation for season 2020-21 lost due to COVID-19 situation," BCCI general secretary Jay Shah said in a tweet.

The Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic competition, will return in a new format on January 13 with Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, and Chennai hosting the group stages and the final to be played from March 16-20 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The per day fee for the top Ranji cricketers, who have played more than 40 matches, was almost doubled to Rs 60,000, which will ensure they they earn Rs 2.40 lakh per first-class match.

Those who had played 21 to 40 matches will be paid Rs 50,000, while players with lesser experience will receive Rs 40,000 per day. The move will likely benefit more than 2,000 male cricketers from the under-16 to the senior level. The BCCI also announced remuneration for women cricketers and the senior players who be paid Rs 20,000 per match instead of Rs 12,500.

Shah also said that domestic players will be paid an increased match fee. According to the announcement, the cricketers in under-23 and under-19 category will get Rs 25,000 and 20,000 per day respectively.

"I am pleased to announce the hike in match fee for domestic cricketers," Shah tweeted.

The compensation for the cancelled Ranji season were recommended by Rohan Jaitley (north zone), Yudhvir Singh (central), Jaydev Shah (west), Devajit Saikia (north-east), Avishek Dalmiya (east) and Santhosh Menon, and Mohammad Azharuddin (south).

Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy

Monday ratified a comprehensive Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy which also brings the Indian cricketers into its ambit. Until now, the BCCI did not have a specific policy to deal the matters of sexual harassment. The policy is also applicable to office-bearers, members of Apex Council and IPL Governing Council besides the cricketers from senior to U-16 level.

In a nine-page document in possession of PTI, the BCCI states that a four member Internal Committee will be formed to investigate sexual harassment complaints. It did not name the members during its Apex Council meeting on Monday.

"The presiding officer of the IC shall be a woman employed at a senior level at the Workplace ("Presiding Officer")," reads the policy.

"2 members of the IC will be selected from among the employees, preferably who are committed to the cause of women or have experience in social work or have legal knowledge.

"1 member of the IC will be selected from a Non-Governmental Organization or association committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment ( External Member ). At least one half of the members of the IC will be women."

The complainant must file the complaint within three months from the date of incident and the IC will give seven working days to the accused to respond to the allegations. The respondent gets 10 days to respond.

The ICC gets 90 days from the date of complaint to complete its inquiry and forward its recommendations to the BCCI which will act on it within 60 days. The complainant or respondent can go to court if they are not satisfied with BCCI's verdict. "That must be done within 90 days of the receipt of the report of the IC."

The penalties include censure, counselling, community services, warning, fine loss of pay, loss of seniority, termination of employment among others.

(With inputs from PTI)