A Trade Union For Team India

For long, BCCI has underpaid generations of cricketers. Now, the CoA is approached for a redressal long overdue.

- Qaiser Mohammad Ali

All is not well between cricketers and administrators in a country where such ties have been decorous, seamless and regime­nted. Bad blood is brewing between Cricket Australia (CA) and top Aussie players, like national team captain Steven Smith and vice captain David Warner over players’ salary. A five­ year­ old MoU between the CA and the players expires next month, and CA chief James Sutherland has shot off an email to the players about a pay cut. So much so that Warner has told Sydney Morning Herald: “If it gets to the extreme they might not have a team for the Ashes (this summer).” Things have not reached such a head in India yet, but there are enough grumblings among players about the BCCI playing scrooge when it comes to share of revenues.

The likes of Virat Kohli and M.S. Dhoni are well off financially not because of a generous BCCI, but because of individual endorsement contracts won on the back of consistent on-field performances. Still, captain Kohli is “very concerned” about hundreds of cricketers, including juniors, and wants the BCCI to pay attention to their lot. Chief national coach Anil Kumble, who as an active player some years ago represented the players in talks with the BCCI, is on the same page with Kohli & Co. Kohli and Kumble have already made a presentation to the Supreme Court- appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) over player-related issues. They are set to meet them again, before the Indian team leaves for the Champions Trophy, starting on June 1 in England.