They beat the Kiwis at Wellington today but that win may not be enough to spare India’s crorepati cricketers from the ultimate sanction: a pay cut for losing a series.As if in response to the public outcry over the team’s pathetic performance on the New Zealand tour, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at acting on a proposal made several months ago: if you lose to a lower-ranked team in a Test or a One-Day match, your salaries will be slashed. ‘Cricketers earn much more off the field’ Players won’t object. They know NZ tour has been shocking Arun Lal, secretary, Cricketers’ Association It’s belittling. They are not employees of the board Ajit Wadekar, former Indian captain I’m for accountability. But cricketers earn much more off the field Sanjay Manjrekar, former batsman If you gain for doing well, you should take a cut for a poor show Yashpal Sharma, former all-rounder It should serve as a lesson for the players Madan Lal, former all-rounder The proposal — which will take into account tournaments or series since May 2002 — is part of the contracts package the BCCI intends to enter with the Indian cricketers in future. Indeed, it is in line with the accountability plans announced by Jagmohan Dalmiya soon after his election as Board president.But India’s cricket heroes — who currently get Rs.2.5 lakh each per Test match and Rs.2.25 lakh each for ODI — need not fret because the contracts also propose they be given a bonus if they upstage any team ranked higher. And the team made a klling after their sensational win over England on the NatWest Trophy.The yardstick to determine the opponents’ status will be the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, BCCI treasurer Kishore Rungta told The Indian Express.‘‘These two policies — the contract system and the performance-based pay structure — were brought up at the Board’s working committee meeting held in May 2002,’’ said Rungta. ‘‘But they have not come into effect yet. There is a status quo on that. It can only be implemented after the working committee, which will be meeting in the third week of this month, approves it.’’That gives the cricketers a chance to redeem themselves. For in India’s fickle public memory, you’re only as good or as bad as your last few matches. Win the last three ODIs and the public would largely have forgotten the earlier debacle.
