PTI

BCCI firm on limitation of player endorsements

Shashank Manohar has said that there would be no going back on the BCCI Working Committee's decision to limit the endorsements of players

Cricinfo staff
09-Apr-2007
Shashank Manohar, vice-president of the BCCI, has said that there would be no going back on the BCCI Working Committee's decision to limit the endorsements of players to three.
"I do not think there is any scope for rethinking on the endorsement policy already announced," Manohar told PTI. "The rules and conditions are set. A player may or may not accept [them] but it is not a problem of the BCCI."
Manohar also said that the graded payment system would not be brought back at any stage. "There is no gradation now and each of the players, senior or junior, is going to get the same amount. The day I release the calculations, they are going to get much more than what we are offering now. They are now getting 13 % of the total income of the board. They might get even 25 % if they win. They could get 8 %, if they do not win matches.
"They are given a basic security now. The board is willing to pay the players more money. Only issue is that the board wants the players to perform and then take more money. Earlier, they were getting the money whether they performed or not. Today, the board is telling the players that we want you to earn much more but it should be resulted oriented."
Manohar dismissed suggestions that the board's decisions could be questioned in the court of law because they infringed on the players' right to earn.
"Nothing will happen in the court because the players are not models," said Manohar. "If they want to play for the board and India, the board is putting conditions. You may or may not accept them. If a player is not willing to sign the contract and uphold the conditions of the contract, it amounts to saying that he is not willing to play for India."
He also defended the board's decision to ask the players to seek its permission before signing an endorsement contract. "We do not want to know the players' figures [of earnings from their personal endorsements]. This is mainly to investigate whether there is any clause that conflicts with the interests of the game or the board or the ICC. We have every right to scrutinise the contracts."
Manohar said there was no question of the board having a dialogue with the players' agents who have come out strongly against its decisions. "Who are the managing agents when it comes to the board. We don't even recognise them. When we recognise the players, why should we talk to the agents."