Now BCCI says players can sign after tour

Details about the meeting are not known, but the very fact that Shah said in Mumbai today that 8220;they the players can sign the contracts after returning from the tour of Bangladesh May 7-29,8221; is indication enough that the Board has received a none-too-happy feedback from the players.

Shah also said: 8220;I don8217;t have any feedback yet from the players. I am going to Kolkata on Sunday and will talk to the players and hear their concerns if there are any.8221; The concern is over the flat retainer fee, which is way below the Rs 20-50 lakh fee that was in vogue till September.

However, a source in the Board made it clear that the Board was in no mood to reconsider this amount, even if they agree to change the timing of the signing of the contract.

Asked if the Board would be ready to renegotiate, Shah passed the responsibility back to the working committee, which took the decision in the first place. 8220;If some changes have to be made in this then only the working committee can do it,8221; Shah said.

The three seniors may have met today, but the rumour is that the basic differences existing between them gives the Board the handle to deal sternly with the issue.

The Board8217;s stand was that it would be fair to give the players time to study the 38-page contract and have their lawyers and agents take a look into it before signing.

Shah also made it clear today that 8220;there8217;s no deadline8221; for signing the contract.

The fine print

8226; As per the clauses of the contracts, the players will get Rs 5 lakh as flat retainer fees irrrespective of their seniority. Players are also entitled to bonus for victories in matches and series separately.

The earlier contract gave the seniors between Rs 20-50 lakh

8226; The players will get Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh each as match fees for ODIs and Tests, respectively.

8226; As bonus players will get Rs 2.5 lakh each for ODI wins at home and overseas.

8226; A drawn Test in India will fetch Rs 2.5 lakh and a Test win will be rewarded with Rs 4.5 lakh per player.

The reserves will get half of this

8226; For a drawn Test overseas, the players will get Rs 3.5 lakh each and for a win abroad they will get Rs 5.5 lakh.

8226; For winning a five-match ODI series at home the team will get Rs 50 lakh while for a triumph in a three-Test series would fetch the squad a bonus of Rs 75 lakh.

8226; For an overseas five-match ODI series win the team gets Rs 75 lakh and for a three-Test series win abroad the team will get Rs 1.2 crore.

8226; No player can sign more than three endorsement deals with sponsors/products at a time and not more than two players can be contracted by a single endorser.

8226; Players will not be allowed to do any sponsor-related events 15 days before the tour and also during the tour.