Ganguly's contract in doubt

Source: Times Now TV     Date: December 23, 2006  

Despite his performance in the first Test against South Africa former skipper Saurav Ganguly finds himself still facing opposition to get an annual contract with the BCCI.

BCCI bosses aren’t too convinced if he deserves an annual contract and they have sound reasons for it.

BCCI Secretary, Niranjan Shah said, “Last year’s performance is the criteria while giving a contract.”

Ganguly could just be the first piece in the contract puzzle that revolves around the Indian cricket board. The contract system as a whole will go under immense scrutiny once again at the BCCI working committee meeting to be held later today.

TIME NOW has learnt that a strong lobby within the body is gunning for a change in the contract system - from the current gradation system to a fixed slab system.

According to the fixed slab system every player in the squad gets Rs 1.8 lakh for a Test and in addition a bonus of Rs 3 lakh for a win.

And as far as the one-dayers go each player will get Rs 1.6 lakh. Sources added there will be no bonus in the shorter format of the game.

Nonetheless, a big debate is in store at the working committee meeting over the contract issue. But the strong lobby is likely to take the pie again as was in the case with the Jagmohan Dalmiya issue, where he was slapped a life ban.