BCCI clears the deck for ex-ICL players

The decision to allow the ICL players to join the mainstream was taken by the BCCI's Working Committee which also decided to increase the Ranji Trophy winners' purse and revise the match fees for umpires and match referees.

The Working Committee also decided to give a financial assistance of Rs 25 crores to the All India Football Federation for the development of football in the country in the next two years.

"The ex-ICL players, who have been granted amnesty are eligible to play the IPL in the next season (2010) with the cap on the payment being a maximum of Rs 20 lakhs," the BCCI said in a release after the meeting.

It also said the prize money for the Ranji Trophy winners has been increased to Rs 2 crores, Rs 1 crore for the runners-up, and Rs 50 lakhs each to the losing semi-finalists.

The Working Committee nominated Amish Saheba and Shavir Tarapore to the ICC International Panel and Sanjay Hazare as TV Umpire.

The BCCI Working Committee also decided to set up specialised coaching centres in Mumbai (Batting), Mohali (Fast Bowling) and Chennai (Spinners and wicketkeepers) from September.

Specialist coaches will be appointed on an Annual Retainership at each of the centres, it added.

The Working Committee also approved the setting up of an Umpires' Academy in principle.

Among other decisions, umpires and coaches will get Rs 7500 per match day while Rs 3750 will be deposited to their Benevolent Fund. Umpire, coaches and match referees (IPL excepted) will be paid Rs. 10,000 per match-day.

The team and support-staff that won the Emerging Players tournament in Australia will be paid a bonus of Rs 10 lakhs each.