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Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is set to pay match fees to its players in the Ranji Trophy from next season, which is going to be on par with the amount paid by the BCCI. Notably, the state associations only pay the daily allowances to their players for domestic matches, so the MCA decision is a step in the right direction.
For the Ranji Trophy, the BCCI currently pays somewhere between ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 per day as match fees to the players, depending on the number of matches they have participated across seasons. With the MCA announcing that they are going to match this amount, the Ranji players from Mumbai will get match fees from their state associations along with the BCCI.
The President of the MCA, Amol Kale, spoke to Indian Express after their Apex Council meeting on Saturday, March 23, and said, “MCA will be paying additional match fees per Ranji Trophy game to each player from next season onwards. For example, if a new player is earning Rs 40,000 per day from the BCCI then MCA will pay them Rs 40,000 too. We felt that players should earn more, especially those who play Ranji Trophy cricket. For us red-ball cricket matters the most as Ranji Trophy holds a special place for everyone in Mumbai.”
The report further stated that the MCA will be needing to spend around ₹2.5 to 3 Crore annually to fulfil their commitment of paying match fees to their Ranji players.
Ajinkya Naik, the MCA Secretary, shared his views about the new initiative from the state association, and said, “The MCA recognises the pivotal role that the Ranji Trophy and red ball cricket play in shaping the future of our sport. By aligning with BCCI’s fees and providing additional support, the Apex council aims to create a conducive environment for young cricketers to excel and hone their skills. This initiative reaffirms MCA’s commitment to promoting the rich legacy of Indian cricket and nurturing the talents of tomorrow.”
