CHENNAI: It seems match officials doing duty on the domestic circuit have to wait longer for a pay revision they were expecting. Following a decision of the BCCI finance committee, umpires, match referees, scorers and video analysts were due a hike from this season. Due partly to the uncertainty in the board over who has authority to take decisions, this has got stalled.
Verbally assured of a hike by BCCI office-bearers who have had powers curbed since by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), match officials posted in senior and junior domestic competitions in men’s and women’s sections have not submitted an invoice they are supposed to after every match, where fees are to be mentioned. Unsure whether to write the old fee or the new as promised, they have not done this formality needed to receive payment. In various categories, tournaments are on and Ranji Trophy has completed four rounds.
Contacted by Express, BCCI’s CFO Santosh Rangnekar said to receive payments, match officials have to follow the same process, under the old pay structure.
“There has been no change in the system. For payments, match officials like umpires, match referees, scorers and video analysts have to raise an invoice mentioning as match fees what they had been receiving. There is no revision. And unless they raise the invoice, payment can’t be processed,” said Rangnekar.
Those on duty in these matches have not had a raise since 2012. Grade A and B umpires get Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 per day. Match referees and scorers receive daily fees of Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively. Travel and daily allowances are extra. Those getting regular postings get 30-40 days a season. According to a proposal by the finance committee, the hike was to be Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000.
Under the old system of BCCI, the finance committee’s decision would require the working committee’s approval. But with the CoA in charge of affairs and the working committee defunct for practical purposes, it seems the matter of raise in this sector of Indian cricket has gone unnoticed. Efforts to reach CoA members went in vain.
“There is very little that we can do, given that there has been no communication from anyone in the board in this regard,” said an umpire who officiates in first-class matches. “If we are told that there is no hike, we can submit the invoice mentioning the old fee. Problem is, nobody has told us anything. But now it seems we have to submit papers stating old fees.”
atreyo@newindianexpress.com