Kohli, Shastri to discuss key issues with CoA

MUMBAI: As the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice, will get together to listen to the long-standing case between the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and Cricket Association of Bihar on Wednesday, the onus turns out to have moved from mere implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations to far more severe problems involving the sport and its stakeholders, including the cricketers themselves.

The SC-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) desires to pursue a newly-designed pay constitution for cricketers and has expressed its need to discuss with India captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri. CoA head Vinod Rai has invited Kohli and Shastri to a casual assembly in New Delhi, the venue of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka, in an effort to "exchange ideas". This exchange, in keeping with sources, will even involve comparable discussions on how a lot cricket India are playing, with captain Virat Kohli just lately insisting on better preparation and lead-in time for marquee away tours.

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The pay-structure factor may be without delay connected to India's dedication to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Program (FTP). Given the negligible quantity of world cricket India are scheduled to play at house in 2018 below the current FTP, the CoA could have a tough time revising salary buildings at the nationwide and home level except a new street map is installed place, say the ones in the know of developments.

"It's important to listen to Virat Kohli's views. He spoke the other day of the amount of cricket that is being played and the need for a break. These matters are inter-linked," said sources.

There are the ones in the cricket fraternity who strongly believe that a one-onone dialogue on these strains will lend a hand iron out problems better. However, in doing so, "the administration needs to realise that players alone can't be made poster boys of such a process", believe the ones in the know of developments. They say "seeking the players' advice is just one of the many things" that need to be carried out.

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The CoA additionally has to take into account that for a salary hike to happen, the BCCI's general body has to present its approval first. The BCCI is all set to negotiate with the ICC on the FTP at a two-day workshop on Dec 7 & 8, following which a different general assembly (SGM) of the board has been referred to as to discuss on the topic.

Between Wednesday's SC listening to and the SGM, scheduled on Dec 11, the CoA should take into account the fact that a pay hike for cricketers will involve a relook into the figure of 26% revenue reserved for players, which is able to come with working out what the 26% includes and what constitutes 100% of revenues being mentioned.

"The tender for media rights of Indian cricket is coming out in January. If that is the major chunk of the revenue that players will get paid from, then the outcome of that tender depends on the FTP. The FTP depends on the SGM where the BCCI's general body will want to have a say. So, at the end of the day, BCCI first needs to focus on how much cricket it wants to play at home and away every year and then begin with a fresh outlook on other matters," said an professional monitoring developments. "For instance, the new FTP falls in place from 2019, post World Cup. So, are we looking at salary revisions from then on?"

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There are those that strongly believe that if BCCI needs to place a revised pay constitution in place, it needs to begin from the bottom of the pile. A first class cricketer takes away an insignificant Rs 12 lakh from the Ranji Trophy in line with season, which - given the board's revenues - is a pittance.

"A chunk of the IPL surplus needs to go here. If you want more Cheteshwar Pujaras in the future, this is where the investment should begin. Then there's the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which is no better than a dormitory right now. Between all this, BCCI also has to consider that there's a huge outgo of pending payments, such as Kochi Tuskers, World Sports Group (WSG). Plus, there are other arbitrations going on," said sources.