Covid-19: ‘BCCI to compensate domestic players soon’

The Board of Control for Cricket in India will adequately compensate the Indian domestic and junior players. These cricketers have been badly affected since there have been no domestic competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is good news for all first class and junior domestic cricketers in India. Even as  tournaments are not possible during the pandemic, the BCCI has decided to compensate the players. Umpires and scorers as well.

The assurance has come from none other than BCCI president Sourav Ganguly himself. In an interview with Sportstar, the former Team India captain has confirmed that the board would duly compensate the domestic and junior cricketers in June and July.

The umpires and scorers will also get their fee.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said all domestic and junior cricketers would be duly compensated after a burgeoning second Covid-19 wave severely affected the domestic calendar.

“Hopefully, by October, things will settle down. Covid has ruined so much of sport and life. We will compensate all the domestic players in June-July. The junior players, umpires, and scorers will all get their fees,” Ganguly has told Sportstar.

The BCCI has suspended junior tournaments till the end of this month. The Ranji Trophy 2020-21 season could also not be possible. There has been no domestic cricket except men’s and women’s 50-over one-day games and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competition for men.

The board is also keeping the players motivated in the hour of crisis. “This virus is so dangerous. We write to the associations. We can’t have direct access to individuals. We keep the players motivated by speaking with them through their associations,” said Ganguly. “How can we expose the young boys to this Covid atmosphere?” he added.

The prevailing scenario threatened to severely affect the players financially. Though the situation to start cricket is beyond anyone’s control, this initiative of the board to take care of all stakeholders deserves a round of applause.