Wasim Akram questions Grade A+ BCCI contracts for Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan

[Hitman]

Pakistani cricket legend Wasim Akram raised questions over the decision to promote Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to Grade A+ category taken by Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) while players like Cheteshwar Pujara, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the Grade A section.

Grade A players will get Rs 5 Crore while A+ category players will get 7 Crore annually.

According to the former Pak pacer Test cricketers should pay more than Dhawan and Rohit who are yet to establish themselves in the longer version of the game.

He thinks Test cricket is the ultimate challenge for the players as he said, “Test specialists should (get more). Because that’s the most difficult cricket. That’s where you get hit by bouncers; you get hit on your head, on your fingers as a batsman. Bowlers bowl longer spells. That’s where the mindset of those who run cricket boards (matters). They should realise Test cricket is the ultimate and everything else follows,” said Akram.

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja lost their place for the emergence of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. While, Rohit and Dhawan yet to establish themselves fully in the Test team and are still considered limited-overs specialists.

http://xtratime.in/wasim-akram-is-not-happy-with-bcci-do-you-know-why/

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

The way I see it players in Grade A+ are there because they represent India in all three formats. Dhoni no longer plays in tests so he was kept in Grade A.

 

[j_kazmi]

I wonder whether Wasim knows more about modern Indian cricket or modern Pakistan cricket.

Same goes for Ramiz. They both seem clueless whenever commentating in a Pakistan match.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I am with Waz on this. Rohit and Dhawan are failure at test cricket.
Kohli should be the only one in the A+ category.

 

[badsha001]

This is none of our problem as a Pakistani but test specialist players should be paid more since most of the time they don't get picked in T20 franchise cricket...

 

[DeadBall]

Shouldn't anger his Indian masters if he wants another IPL gig.

 

[Savak]

I think Test specialists in principle should be given more respect and financial security and should be paid at par if not higher. You don't want dissatisfaction rising in

 

[USofA]

Just out of curiosity, how much of of the 7 crores for each player comes from earnings from Tests?

I would say zilch, zero, nada. I think BCCI would barely break even staging a test. All of BCCI's money comes from ODI's (besides IPL, of course). And guess who are among the permanent fixtures in the ODI's - Sharma and Dhawan.

Tests the "premier" format is on ventilator in almost all cricket playing countries. On top of that, the cost to keep the ventilator on is being footed by ODI's.

You reward people who make you money, not lose money. That is how the real world functions.

 

[Madplayer]

The way I see it players in Grade A+ are there because they represent India in all three formats. Dhoni no longer plays in tests so he was kept in Grade A.

This should be the measure. I agree with it.

The more you play, the more you earn.

If Rohit and Dhawan are playing all formats, they deserve more money. How can someone who plays only test cricket be paid more?

However performance should also be taken into consideration. On current form, only Virat deserves an A+ contract and Maybe Bhuvneshwar because they play all formats and have performed well.

 

[Savak]

Just out of curiosity, how much of of the 7 crores for each player comes from earnings from Tests?

I would say zilch, zero, nada. I think BCCI would barely break even staging a test. All of BCCI's money comes from ODI's (besides IPL, of course). And guess who are among the permanent fixtures in the ODI's - Sharma and Dhawan.

Tests the "premier" format is on ventilator in almost all cricket playing countries. On top of that, the cost to keep the ventilator on is being footed by ODI's.

You reward people who make you money, not lose money. That is how the real world functions.

Doesn't BCCI have so much money that fans like to boast off. Surely they can afford to provide a good deal of financial security to test players so that they don't feel compelled to and augment their incomes by playing in T-20 leagues around the world or trying very hard to get IPL contracts.

Pujara's batting slump had started when he started playing in the IPL and wanted a spot in India's T-20 and ODI team.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Agree with Wasim. It is strange not to see Ashwin in the top category. He is India's biggest match winner in tests.

 

[USofA]

Doesn't BCCI have so much money that fans like to boast off. Surely they can afford to provide a good deal of financial security to test players so that they don't feel compelled to and augment their incomes by playing in T-20 leagues around the world or trying very hard to get IPL contracts.

Pujara's batting slump had started when he started playing in the IPL and wanted a spot in India's T-20 and ODI team.

Just because you have money doesn't mean you put it on a bad investment. It is not a question of can/cannot afford. It is just pure common sense. The people/players bringing in the $$ are being rewarded. As simple as that.

Test cricket has a very very bleak future. There is just no money in it. In fact it drains money that can be put use elsewhere.

 

[AamirWarraich]

I have to agree sadly. Test cricket is the highest standard of the game but the world has moved on. The future of cricket is limited overs.

I think Tests will die out completely in another 25-30 years.

 

[JustNotAFanOfThings]

I understand the respect given to Test Cricket by the players & the fans But I do find it a bit hypocritical at times.

How many times Wasim Akram has talked about his best Test performances vs his performance in 1992 World Cup? It's not even a contest. Hardly ever vs almost every freaking time.

His fans doing it is another thing (not that it's less hypocritical), but since you personally do it even more, that gives the message that you actually put performance in limited overs cricket over Test cricket.

 

[WengerOut]

Is Wasim not in the IPL scheme of things?

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I wonder whether Wasim knows more about modern Indian cricket or modern Pakistan cricket.

Same goes for Ramiz. They both seem clueless whenever commentating in a Pakistan match.

Maybe it has to do with professionalism?

Personally speaking, the only real contact with Pakistani bureaucracy was at Lahore International airport. Needless to say, it left me mentally scarred. I ain't going back unless absolutely necessary.

PS: IIRC both Wasim/Ramiz have been insulted on TV by 'ex-players-pundits'. I guess that explains it.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Doesn't BCCI have so much money that fans like to boast off. Surely they can afford to provide a good deal of financial security to test players so that they don't feel compelled to and augment their incomes by playing in T-20 leagues around the world or trying very hard to get IPL contracts.

Pujara's batting slump had started when he started playing in the IPL and wanted a spot in India's T-20 and ODI team.

And why on earth BCCI waste their money on test sprcialists? People don't care about tests, only a few delusional elitists think test is the purest format. BCCI knows where the money comes from, and they right chose where the moneybshould go to. Pujara won't please the spectators, he doesn't deserve the money for blocking balls after balls in front of crows in an empty stand

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

He should not poke his nose in other boards but pcb