Harbhajan Singh Raises Concern Over Low Match Fees Payed To Domestic Players

Veteran Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed the need for providing contracts to domestic players, to ensure financial security. Bhajji is of the view that uncertainty of income causes many players to quit cricket, while others struggle to make ends meet.

Harbhajan penned a heartfelt letter to former teammate and current Indian coach Anil Kumble asking him to look after the issue. Harbhajan, in his letter, said that he became aware of the plight of domestic players while representing Punjab over the last few years, he further described his interaction with junior players, explaining the current scenario.

In his letter to Kumble, Bhajji said;

“I request you to please take this up with the top brass of BCCI and players like Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid), (VVS) Laxman, Viru (Virender Sehwag) to ensure that a change is brought about in the pay structure, in the amounts they get paid. I am willing to help/assist in any way to help bring in a change. It’s shocking to say the least that the payment system hasn’t been changed since 2004. Imagine the value of 100 rupees then and now. It is so different,”

“Imagine in today’s day and age how can you call yourself a professional if your ‘job’ doesn’t even tell you how much you will earn yearly? How can you sign up and commit your life to a job which doesn’t promise you a fixed income every year. And that too, you are paid one year after you complete your work”

“The guys can’t even plan their future because they don’t know whether they would earn Rs 1 lakh or Rs 10 lakh in that year and it leads to huge issues in their lives and families and (affects) state of mind. Anyway, let’s try and gently make a change for our brothers.”

Harbhajan revealed to the PTI that he realised the struggles of Domestic players, especially those who don’t earn IPL contracts, during his time spent in the local dressing room,

“If I wouldn’t have played domestic cricket during last four-five years, I wouldn’t have known what an average domestic cricketer goes through. Not everyone has a job. By God’s grace, if they get an IPL contract their lives improve”

“I have achieved enough because of cricket and I have been fortunate to play close to 400 international matches in India. I am not talking for myself but those who are grinding it out at the domestic level.”

“But how many get IPL contracts? There will be hundreds of domestic cricketers who will not play for India or have an IPL contract but they are also cricketers just like any top India cricketer. They also have families, dreams, aspirations. This is a request that these domestic cricketers are also looked after,” He was quoted saying.

Anil Kumble who is scheduled to give a presentation on contracts of international players to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) in Hyderabad on May 20 and 21, is likely to take up the matter raised by his former teammate.

While international players earn lucrative sums, and have recently earned a hike in their annual contracts, the struggles of domestic players go unheard. Finding a voice in the form of international players like Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble should aid their cause.