In the latest review of the gradation system of BCCI, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh have been promoted to the Grade ‘A’ while Virender Sehwag(Viru), Harbhajan Singh, VVS Laxman and Irfan Pathan have been demoted to Grade ‘B’ in the graded system of BCCI
Despite the impressive performance of Zaheer Khan in recent months, he was retained in Grade ‘C’ whereas Irfan Pathan who didn’t play any game is in Grade ‘B’. Mohammad Kaif, who was in grade ‘B’ earlier, and Murali Kartik in grade ‘C’, had their contracts not renewed.
The annual retainership fee of Grade ‘A’ is Rs 50 Lakhs(123,183 USD), Grade ‘B’ is Rs 35 Lakhs(86,228 USD) and Grade ‘C’ is Rs 20 Lakhs(49,273 USD). Besides the retainership, the players also get a uniform match fee and a share of the board’s profits.
The contracts are based on performance during the last season(2005-2006), in which Sourav Ganguly(Grade A) just played half of the season and kicked out of the team on the basis of his performance. The contract is effective from October 1, 2006 and will run til September 30, 2007.
The BCCI contracted players:
Grade A: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Grade B: VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar.
Grade C: Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Jaffer, S Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Suresh Raina, Munaf Patel.
Highlights of the review because of which it is highly criticized in the media :
- Delay in Announcement, Nine months late.
- Pathan’s higher grade as compare to Zaheer Khan.
- Ganguly in Grade ‘A’ despite of not played half of the season(2005-2006).
- Yuvraj in Grade ‘A’ who is yet to cement a Test spot.
- Dhoni in Grade ‘A’ who failed consistenly outside the continent.
