Supreme Court restricts BCCI from disbursing prize money

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) always believes in rewarding achievers. Indian cricketers enjoy the handsome prize money and other incentives which they recover after triumphant performances. While in the past everything was smooth and in order, this time around it seems that the BCCI would not be able to present lavish amounts to its cricketers owing to the restrictions from Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of India has passed an order that limits the BCCI’s financial freedom and power until the board and its state associations comply with the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.

With BCCI needing the apex court’s permission for disbursal of any amount, the Virat Kohli-led team that beat England 4-0 in the just-concluded five-Test series may have to wait to a little longer to see the prize money coming into their accounts.

“Nothing can happen before Supreme Court hearing on January 3,” a senior office-bearer told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Normally, the incentives for the senior men’s team has been on the higher side with as much as Rs 2 crore being given in 2015 when Kohli’s boys beat South Africa 3-0 in a four-match series. But with BCCI’s failure to adhere to the directives issued by the Supreme Court appointed Justice RM Lodha committee in toto, the disbursal of funds now needs apex court’s permission.

It will be interesting to see if BCCI puts an application about their intent of rewarding the team for such a performance. In fact, it was the Supreme Court that had earmarked an amount of Rs 58.66 lakh per Test match for the organisation. The BCCI also had to appeal for Rs 25 lakh per limited overs match against England.

India solidified its numero uno position on the Test charts after beating England 4-0 in the recently concluded Anthony D’ Mello Trophy.