Cricket is truly played only by eight countries (and ICC believed those countries will come to Super Eight, but two didn't do even that!). India is ranked currently sixth, seventh or eighth depending on whose ranking you believe. To be in the bottom three is not an achievement. Even if India was the best among just eight countries, and become number one, it is not a splendid achievement. The only reason why cricketers are paid so high in India is because so many people watch it, since India doesn't get anywhere near the top fifty in all other popular outdoor sports. If you don't like movies for entertainment, you have nothing to watch/cheer other than cricket. When India rises up in any one of the other sports (like Hockey, Football, Tennis, and even Basketball or Volleyball), the same day, people will be disinterested in cricket, and then this whole issue of low wages (like 1 crore) to cricketers will be a moot point. To think there is a world cup in Cricket to determine the best of just eight teams is almost a joke. There are more than 200 countries in the world, and most don't have the patience to play a full day to know the result. The British gave us this stupid game, and it has grown like a weed.
A Manoj tiwariis not equal to a Rahul dravid or Sachin or Saurav or even a sehwag. Regardless of what happened in the WC, what the Board proposes as a uniform retainer is wrong in principle. Senior cricketers should be given a better retainer, say Rs 20 lacs or so each and those less senior such as Yuvraj, should be paid a little less. The formula could be based on number of matches played for the country. Also it is useless on the part of people writing to Rediff to rail about this and that person being undeserving of selection. The selection committee is the best judge and we should at least accept that. The Board will definitely come to an understanding based on the above formula and this will ensure satisfaction of all parties involved. Seeing this kind of abuse on Rediff makes one sick and discourages authors who write good articles. Why should Rediff become like cricketnext? Suggest moderation even before posting. May be the moderator team can be distributed amongst select members of the public.
RE:Seniors cannot be equated to juniors
by veerapuram dharan on May 07, 2007 10:14 AM
see, payment should not be based on past records budy, we are looking ahead thatn thinking of teh past..never matter any one played 350 odd matches so far and a new comer, its the performance that matters..
RE:Seniors cannot be equated to juniors
by Chris on May 07, 2007 10:47 AM
Assume you have put in twenty years of service and have earned three promotions. Would you be willing to bring your salary at par with a fresher? Why is this not done in the corporate world? Reason is that seniors carry a higher responsibility. If they do not fulfil their responsibilities, by all means, kick them out. You cannot change the order just because there are a huge bunch of irresponsible jokers in the public who do not know how to hold a bat and yet sit in judgement over our cricketers. See I may hold an opinion on who deserves to be in the team and who should not, senior or junior, but once a person is chosen, you should respect his seniority. This is exactly what has been violated. It is not a matter of money. It is disrespecting years of toil and application for pandering to a fickle public. Now assume this team wins in Bangladesh and then follows up with a win in England, there will be people who will say that the team has won against minnows and a second grade team. Cricketers are hardly perfect but believe me that Gavaskar, Vishwanath, Kapil Dev, Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble are exceptional cricketers who came up despite the system. None of them had the benefit of godfathers, at least in the initial stages, but built their craft step by step and had or have a work ethic totally alien to India. These cricketers are exceptional because they have succeeded outside India and the batsmen amongst them, including Kapil, have played fast bowlers with courage. Both Kumble and Kapil succeeded in India and outside and have huge achievements to their credit. Do not knock seniority and experience. They come in handy in difficult situations.
RE:Seniors cannot be equated to juniors
by freespeech on May 07, 2007 11:05 AM
Playing a game has nothing to do with seniority, but everything to do with how they play TODAY. To compare it with some experienced professional is nonsense. If you take football leagues in Europe, or Basketball leagues in USA, or Rugby leagues in New Zealand/SA/Australia, every one of them will pay what is your CURRENT worth as a player, and not how well you achieved 10 years ago, and not even a year or six months ago. So, Chris...don't get confused with a job. Playing a game is not like working up your way in corporation. You wouldn't want to send Milka Singh today to Olympics, because he was the fastest runner 50 years ago, would you? Also, you wouldn't want to watch John McEnroe as your doubles partner in tennis, would you? Just think for a while...
i guess the players concern is due to teh fact that the BCCI is out there to swindle money for its own needs than either for the players benefits or for the country's benefits..
may be the players are afraid that the balance of 20 lacs(25lacs-5lacs) would go to sharad pawars team than the team india..
this system seems to be better - performan or perish. if a team or a cricketer performs for the good of the team, definitely they need to be applauded or rewarded. I think like in many companies, the cricketer should be given a list of expected performace list for the next year - like for a batsman, minimum a certain number of runs, certain number of centuries and half centuries, no catch miss, definite strike rate and building partnerships for a bowler, no. of wickets and run rate checkers with good economical over rate with a ground rule of fielding criteria as a standard. This way, at least at the end of the season, the cricketers can themselves evaluate their performace against the results expected from them at the start of the season and the rewards may be based on - On Plan , Below Plan or Above Plan criteria.
Moreover, if the BCCI wants, they can make all these expectations public so that the public also knows and evaluate the performance of every individual team member.
Similar criteria sjould be for the caoch, trainer, fitness expert and all support staff.
The contract looks perfect for our players.Earlier whether the team wins or not,everyone made lots of bucks.Now ,when they are told to win matches and get the money ,everyone is concerned.All the cricketers,they say,"A cricketers span is very short.Hence we need to make use of the time in which we play".You people want to make money for your next 2-3 generations.This is not the right attitude.Inturn you are setting the worst example for the future.Shame on you players.
Even before the series Mr Dravid is concerned about the contract & money not about the performance of the team !!! My dear perform first and then put your demand or else get out of the team and let other players play for the country .
RE:senior cricketers are money minded
by Raam on May 07, 2007 09:48 AM
Don't judge Dravid on his performance in WC alone. He is respected by all international players as one of the great batsmen in the world at present. He is justified in asking for higher match fee than Manoj Tiwary who is just included. BCCI has bungled with the policy of seniority.
RE:senior cricketers are money minded
by Raghunathan Nair on May 07, 2007 10:08 AM
Raam, Great batsmen for himself and not for the country and fans like you & me. I am not bothered about what his individual performance but surely what team gains from his great batsmanship is matters. People like you still support these greedy players even after the worst ever WC debacle. Respcted by all international players doesn't make good for the country but only for himself and his family. Please be in sense. Indian public don't need great players but need players who can play for the team and country.
RE:RE:senior cricketers are money minded
by Praveen Kumar on May 07, 2007 09:05 AM
in ur firm if u r payed equal to a new comer then wat will u do... BCCI is a private firm so as ICC.. so they all are money minded there nothing wrong in that...
The criteria for all the sport must be same. Maximum money comes to cricket is not because of cricketers but due to people. People do not have any objection for transfer of fund for the progress of other sports
RE:What about hockey football Shooters
by Prashant Mathur on May 07, 2007 09:17 AM
Other games dont have the guts and the players like Cricket. Can you name 5 Players of the current Indian Hockey Team.....
3) Cricket/Cricketers/World Cup is not the pride of India.
4) BCCI and state circket body are private fiefdoms whose aim is to earn money.
Keeping all that in mind. I request people that dont get too emotional with Team India(which is not even an official backed team). I am sure if there is any other organisation who is equally capable of launching its own team and then get it affiliated with ICC and subsequently get media coverage can play for India too.
Keeping all that in mind, Sachin, Sehwag yada yada are all professional players who are here to earn money since it is there job. At jobs, some people do good, some bad. All times are not equal. So dont make them demi gods and when they dont perform. Dont get too emotional. Try to watch and follow other sport with equal passion and not necessarily cricket team. There are equally worth sports team in various sports within and outside India worthy of your love, dedication and passion.
So quit this crying split milk over how and how not should these guys be paid.
I find it quite pathetic that the same people complain about Rediff all the time. But they do seem to come back to this website. hmmmm, makes you think who is the bigger fool.
