15 lakh cash award for selectors: CoA

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has announced Rs 15 lakh cash award for each of the senior men’s and women’s selectors following its meeting with the top BCCI officials here on Wednesday. “The award is for their good work and good selection of team,” CoA member Diana Edulji told reporters.

However, no decisions were taken on most of the issues listed on the agenda for the meeting. The CoA also sounded a warning to the state associations who have not sent their members list to the CoA, the last day for which was Wednesday. Only 10 affiliated units have responded to the demand. “Those who haven’t will figure in the status report,” she said.

The matter related to the clearance of dues of former skipper Mohd Azharuddin was forwarded to the General Body since it was a technical matter. The issue of fast bowler S Sreesanth, whose life ban by the BCCI was revoked by the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, too came up for discussion. “We have forwarded the matter to our legal team,” Edulji said.

It has been learned that the CoA and the BCCI have also finalised a list of commentators which include Sanjay Manjrekar, Harsha Bhogle -- who makes a comeback after being sacked for criticising top Indian  players — Sunil Gavaskar and Karthik Murali. L Sivaramakrishnan and Zaheer Khan have been kept in reserves.

However, the COA has made it  clear to all of them that they will have to take an undertaking that they do not come under any conflict of interest.     

The decision on the key issue of increment to domestic players across age groups and support staff, too, has been left pending. The CoA will be meeting with the BCCI officials on August 23 again in Mumbai to take a final decision on it.