MPCA announces financial aid for women cricketers
The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association is set to offer monthly financial assistance to women cricketers from the state who are not eligible for support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The decision was taken at the MPCA managing committee meeting on Monday.
While international cricketers will receive INR 12,500 per month, the monthly support will range from INR 6,000 to 10,000 depending on various categories. This scheme covers cricketers who represented the Women's Cricket Association of India as well as the BCCI.
Additional INR 7,500 per month has been earmarked for beneficiaries above 75 years. Due to limited documentation of the earlier years, the association does not have the list as yet, and the payments will be on application-based.
| Category Description | Eligibility Criteria | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| International Cricketers (Test & ODI only) | - | 12,500 |
| Played only under WCAI | - | - |
| WCAI | 8-15 matches | 6,000 |
| WCAI | 16-20 matches | 7,500 |
| WCAI | 21 or more matches | 10,000 |
| Played under WCAI + BCCI | - | - |
| WCAI + BCCI | 15-20 matches | 6,000 |
| WCAI + BCCI | 21-25 matches | 7,500 |
| WCAI + BCCI | 25 or more matches | 10,000 |
| Played only under BCCI | - | - |
| BCCI | 20-25 matches | 6,000 |
| BCCI | 26-35 matches | 7,500 |
| BCCI | 35 or more matches | 10,000 |
The scheme will be effective from April 1.
This is in line with the latest decision by the Karnataka State Cricket Association to offer a monthly pension of INR 15,000 to women cricketers who have represented Karnataka in the senior women's national championships and are above 55 years of age. Similar pension schemes are in place for cricketers from Bengal, Gujarat, Baroda and Vidarbha among others.
The BCCI currently covers former international women players with a pension of INR 52,500 per month. Under the BCCI's pension policy, first-class women cricketers who retired before 2003 receive INR 45,000, while Test players who retired before December 31, 1993, and played more than 25 matches are given INR 70,000. Women who played 50-74 matches up to the 2003-04 season are paid INR 45,000 as pension, and those with 75-plus matches are given INR 52,500 per month
The MPCA committee also approved an increase in pension for men cricketers and umpires. Retired men cricketers, who are not under the BCCI pension scheme, will now receive INR 7,000 (for playing up to 4 matches), INR 10,000 (5-14 matches) and INR 12,500 (15-24 matches)
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh's retired BCCI-level umpires will now get a pension of INR 10,000 while state-level umpires will get INR 6,500 per month. If they are above 75 years of age, they will receive an additional INR 7,500.
An increase in honorariums for umpires, scorers and selectors has also been approved. While the umpires officiating in inter-divisional games will now earn INR 5000, the scorers will be given INR 2500 per day, while the selectors will be paid INR 9000. The incentives have also been altered for the coaches.
Chandrakant Pandit reappointed
In another decision taken at the managing committee meeting, Chandrakant Pandit has reappointed in his role as the Director of Cricket for a two-year term. Pandit has been involved with MPCA since 2020, having guided the senior men's team to their maiden Ranji Trophy win in his capacity as the head coach of the side.
The managing committee has also cleared the construction of Pavilion blocks in Morena and Narmadapuram grounds.
