BCCI umpires, match officials too awaiting compensation

The Covid pandemic hit not just the cricketers but the officials also. Like cricketers the BCCI's umpires, scores, match referees and video analysts who play an important role in smooth conduction of the matches are also awaiting compensation from the national cricketing body.

They are in the lurch as the domestic matches came to a halt following the Covid pandemic. BCCI had promised that along with players the officials would also be compensated but so far disbursement plan is yet to be worked out for both players and umpires.

It may be mentioned here that there are around 300 officials including umpires, match referees, video analysts and scorers who are registered with BCCI.

. While 20 Grade A umpires get Rs 40,000 per day for matches, others in Grade B, C and D and match referees get Rs 30,000 per day.As far as scorers are concerned they get Rs 10,000 per day. However their assignments are only local. As only selected venues including Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Indore, Surat, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi hosted T-20 and one-day matches last season the rest of the scorers including that of Vidarbha have not received any pay.

Generally elite panel umpire earn around Rs 18 to 20 lakh per season. But due to curtailed domestic season they are deprived of it.

Talking to this newspaper one of the scorers on the condition of anoni,ity said , “ Since the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches were organised at eight centres the umpires and local scorers received some amount but rest of the scorers have not received any pay. Secondly, the local cricket association VCA also didn't conduct much tournaments following lockdown. They organised just Guzer League Tournament and some practice matches. Therefore the local umpires and scorers are left in lurch”, he said.

One scorer said Vidarbha Cricket Association has not announced any compensation to its umpires and scorers but Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has declared to pay around Rs 50,000 to their above 50 years match officials.

One elite panel umpires while talking to this newspaper said, “ No doubt the match officials including umpires who have no jobs in their hands are the most sufferer. They can't do anything because BCCI's first priority is players. They will compensate the players first and then will think about officials”. He also said that this situation arises due to pandemic this year and earlier BCCI was very prompt in disbursement of payments to the officials. It was upto the officials how they utilised the money. Had they invested their earnings smartly, they would have go through the financial crunch this season.

Box

No decision on compensation

to ranji layers in BCCI SGM

The Ranji players were left disappointed as no decision regarding their compensation was taken during BCCI virtual SGM.

As per news agency one member from a state association had informally raised the issue but he was told in no uncertain terms that this is not the appropriate forum as SGM needs to be held as per agenda. One official said, "The compensation thing has already been passed at the AGM last January. Yes, they haven't worked out a formula and trust me it's not the easiest thing”.Nilesh Deshpande

Nagpur, May 29

The Covid pandemic hit not just the cricketers but the officials also. Like cricketers the BCCI's umpires, scores, match referees and video analysts who play an important role in smooth conduction of the matches are also awaiting compensation from the national cricketing body.

They are in the lurch as the domestic matches came to a halt following the Covid pandemic. BCCI had promised that along with players the officials would also be compensated but so far disbursement plan is yet to be worked out for both players and umpires.

It may be mentioned here that there are around 300 officials including umpires, match referees, video analysts and scorers who are registered with BCCI.

. While 20 Grade A umpires get Rs 40,000 per day for matches, others in Grade B, C and D and match referees get Rs 30,000 per day.As far as scorers are concerned they get Rs 10,000 per day. However their assignments are only local. As only selected venues including Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Indore, Surat, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi hosted T-20 and one-day matches this season the rest of the scorers in the country have not received any pay.

Generally elite panel umpire earn around Rs 18 to 20 lakh per season. But due to curtailed domestic season they are deprived of it.

Talking to this newspaper one of the scorers on the condition of anoni,ity said , “ Since the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches were organised at eight centres the umpires and local scorers received some amount but rest of the scorers have not received any pay. Secondly, the local cricket association VCA also didn't conduct much tournaments following lockdown. They organised just Guzer League Tournament and some practice matches. Therefore the local umpires and scorers are left in lurch”, he said.

One scorer said Vidarbha Cricket Association has not announced any compensation to its umpires and scorers but Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has declared to pay around Rs 50,000 to their above 50 years match officials.

One elite panel umpires while talking to this newspaper said, “ No doubt the match officials including umpires who have no jobs in their hands are the most sufferer. They can't do anything because BCCI's first priority is players. They will compensate the players first and then will think about officials”. He also said that this situation arises due to pandemic this year and earlier BCCI was very prompt in disbursement of payments to the officials. It was upto the officials how they utilised the money. Had they invested their earnings smartly, they wouldn't have go through the financial crunch this season.

No decision on compensationto Ranji players in BCCI SGM

The Ranji players were left disappointed as no decision regarding their compensation was taken during BCCI virtual SGM.

As per news agency one member from a state association had informally raised the issue but he was told in no uncertain terms that this is not the appropriate forum as SGM needs to be held as per agenda. One official said, "The compensation thing has already been passed at the AGM last January. Yes, they haven't worked out a formula and trust me it's not the easiest thing”.