Finally, the contacts are here

When the BCCI makes public the annual players8217; contracts on Friday, it will bring down the curtains on one of the longest-running chapt...

When the BCCI makes public the annual players8217; contracts on Friday, it will bring down the curtains on one of the longest-running chapters in Indian cricket history. After four years, 10 rounds of meetings and several thousand sheets of fine-print, the insecurity and uncertainty surrounding an Indian cricket player8217;s life will come to a close. It will be an especially sweet moment for the negotiators on both sides 8212; Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid players and BCCI joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty 8212; who ventured into the unknown before taking several right turns. Here8217;s a guide to what they8217;ve been through:

START OF PLAY

Initial idea was seniority-based graded payment system, discussed on 1997 Lanka tour between players and team manager Shetty. Things started moving in 2000 when Kumble and Dravid came into the picture. Kumble8217;s 10-month lay-off gave him enough time to come up with idea of contract payments

BENCH STRENGTH

Annual contract for national team will be signed by maximum 20 players, divided into three grades. These 20 will be chosen, and ranked, by committee comprising BCCI president, secretary, selection committee chairman and team coach. Eligibility: 3 Tests or 10 ODIs

THE 12TH MEN

Gradation does not guarantee selection. Performance will continue to be the criterion on the count. And only the selected XV or XVI will play a particular series and avail of the match fee. Those not selected will have to take fitness tests every three months

MONEY MATTERS

Player salary divided into two components 8212; match fee and annual retainership. Test match fees Rs 2 lakh, ODI fees Rs 1.6 lakhs, same for all grades. Retainership graded to Rs 60 lakhs for A, Rs 30 lakhs for B and Rs 15 lakhs for C. Reserves will get paid 50 of what playing XI get

THE AD BREAKS

Players and BCCI will ensure cricketers8217; indvidual sponsors don8217;t clash with either board8217;s or ICC8217;s official sponsors. You cannot, says Shetty, 8216;8216;bind a player8217;8217; by putting it in white and black but both sides wiser after the 2002 fiasco

FINES AREN8217;T FINE

Much-mooted bonus structure with win incentives and punishments for losses has not been woven into contracts. Instead, Shetty says, it will be a separate entity much like it is now

SLIP CORDON-I

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For the players, contracts USP is that it provides financial and personal security. No longer will any player go penniless if he misses a season because of injury as happened to Kumble; his retainership will be paid to him

SLIP CORDON-II

For the BCCI, no recurrence of the USA or Abu Dhabi episodes where players in the reckoning or past sell-by date sign up for masala matches. The players can only participate in matches sanctioned or approved by the BCCI. And no more star tantrums about talking to media 8212; they have to fulfil PR obligations like talking to the media or appearing at promos

8212; Chandresh Narayanan