Windfall in fall season

Zaidi has decided that this will be his last season for UP and he has set his goals. Zaidi is looking to grab just three wickets as soon as he can lay his hands on the new ball. 8220;I am very close to breaking Madan Lal8217;s record of taking maximum first class wickets,8221; he says.

His immediate concern is a green track that will help him reach the record and not the 8216;greens8217; he is expected to make this season. 8220;When I started playing 8212; in 1988-89 8212; I used to get around Rs 1500 per match. Before me, there were players who did not even get that much and this is something that went on for years. For some, maybe, their careers were not about money at all, but just about the game,8221; Zaidi reminds.

This he speaks for his fellow domestic stars who for years suffered travelling in unreserved railway compartments, staying in seedy hotels and the perpetual financial struggles to get expensive cricket kits. But he doesn8217;t say that he isn8217;t exactly non materialistic. 8220;Money is good as long as it comes along with the game. I8217;m not cribbing that money is coming now, at a time when I am leaving. I never thought about it that way,8221; he says.

But Zaidi does have one regret and that8217;s understandable. 8220;I don8217;t know why but I never played for India ,8221; he says. And as afterthought he adds: 8220;The selectors must have never found me good enough.8221; The hint of sarcasm is hard to miss from the bowler who is now close to taking 400 wickets in 109 matches.

Zaidi, for all his wealth of experience, does believe in kismet. But surprisingly he is not blaming fate for not getting the India blues. 8220;If it weren8217;t for kismet, I wouldn8217;t have played for so long. I wouldn8217;t have taken so many wickets,8221; he says as a matter of fact, but adds: 8220;Kismet is all in our hands.8221;

It doesn8217;t seem that there will be a celebratory testimonial season for Zaidi nor will there be buntings and balloons in the Lucknow8217;s city square when he8217;ll finally end his association with UP. With BCCI coffers over-flowing and money pouring into domestic cricket, Zaidi 8212; happy with his last pay cheque 8212; will silently fade away. Windfall in the fall season just happens to be a coincidence or a last minute intervention of fate to reward the last of the amateurs.

8216;Money is a big incentive, and anyone denying that, is lying8217;

8226; Cricket has been my life. I8217;m also close to a milestone of 100 first-class games, having played 96, and only six short of 400 wickets. Domestic cricket has changed since I first played. In the emerging situation, money is definitely a big change. It is a big incentive, and anyone denying that, is lying. It will provide security to young players. However, on the flip-side, players shouldn8217;t get easily satisfied earning enough money through domestic games. It should not stop them from aspiring to take the next step or lead to a scenario where they are only bothered about keeping their place in the state side.

Dodda Ganesh, 33 yrs, 11 years in domestic circuit

8216;No excuse for poor showing8217;

8226; I will be playing for Goa this year, along with Ajay Ratra and Nikhil Haldipur, and trying our best to gain a promotion into the Elite league since we have a good bunch of players. I8217;m sure my 12 years of experience, will come in handy for a small team like Goa. It was my love for cricket, which kept me going. Money coming into domestic cricket is a major difference. There were times when cricketers would struggle to buy shoes and trainers which came in thousands, but now things will improve. But there cannot be an excuse for poor performances.

Rahul sanghvi, 32 yrs, 11 years in domestic circuit

8216;It8217;s all in the little things8217;

8226; The money has come in of course, but the main focus is still playing for India. It8217;s been 14 years and what I have earned through my whole life, I think, I would be earning more than that in this year, but jokes apart, cricket has become serious source of livelihood for players and that8217;s good. You have to find motivation. It8217;s in little things. First ambition was to seal my place in the state side, then to play for India, got dropped then ambition was to earn a recall. Now my aim is to win Ranji Trophy. I have been around for 15 years8230;and to get my hands on it.

Pankaj Dharmani, 32 yrs, 14 years in domestic circuit

8216;The money was long due8217;

8226; Well, I8217;ve just learnt from media reports that first-class cricketers are likely to have a windfall courtesy the BCCI. But so far we8217;re getting just Rs 4,000 per day per match in Ranji Trophy. If the board really decides to share the money with first-class it will be great. Any cricketer playing in the first-class level will be able to make a decent living. In the same breath I must say the move is likely to spur older cricketers to try harder and retain their place. Nevertheless it8217;s fantastic news to see some money rolling. It was long due.

Sairaj Bahutule, 33 yrs, 14 years in domestic circuit

8216;Good players deserve money8217;

8226; You do have to worry about earning a living. Money may not be the only reason, but it does come into the framework. A heavier pay package for Ranji cricketers may encourage older players to keep going, it also increases the competition and in turn the incentive to play hard and perform well to remain in the playing eleven. At the end of it, it8217;s a responsibility that you have to fulfill by playing well, to deserve that money. I wouldn8217;t want to be a liability on any side. Cricket has given me a lot. I can8217;t imagine just not playing.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar, 32 yrs, 14 years in domestic circuit

8216;I8217;ll enjoy as long as I8217;m fit8217;

8226; If you focus on what you are going to get from playing, your performance is bound to suffer. Besides, the money you get from playing is not going to change your ability to play cricket. As long as I am fit, enjoying and just as keen to improve, I would continue. The huge monetary incentives for Ranji players from this year will make players feel rewarded for their efforts. But it would be more crucial for youngsters, in choosing the sport as a career over anything else. For older players, however, the enthusiasm to keep playing would matter over money.

Connor Williams, 33 yrs, 10 years in domestic circuit

8216;Money will be motivating8217;

8226; I want to perform well and keep playing well for Baroda and ensure that Baroda cricket goes up. Playing first-class cricket in itself is a motivation. Not everybody gets to play first-class cricket. Pay scale of domestic cricket has also gone up substantially. What a Test cricketer used to earn 5-7 years back, now same money is being earned by a first-class player. It is also a very important motivating factor. Had the financial scenario in domestic cricket were as poor as it were say 10 years back, I would have been possibly giving you a different story today.

Jacob Martin, 34 yrs, 15 years in domestic circuit

8216;Cricket gave me everything8217;

8226; My love for the game is such that I don8217;t want to leave it. Cricket has given me everything, I want to give it back whatever I got from it by making Baroda excel in the game. Baroda has been doing well in the domestic circuit since the last couple of seasons, it is a great achievement. It8217;s such a wonderful feeling that I get motivated when I still see an outside chance to make a comeback to the national side. Cricket is a funny game. Anything may happen. Robin Singh made a comeback after a decade. Players like Anil Kumble are still continuing so why can8217;t we?