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Former Indian cricket team batter Gautam Gambhir delivered a clear verdict on the decision taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reward players for participation in Test cricket. The ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’  is designed to encourage players to take part in the shortest format of the sport with an additional reward structure on top of the existing match fee for Test matches, set at Rs 15 lakhs. Gambhir took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to praise BCCI for their decision with the message – “Freedom from uncertainty is extremely important for performance! Great step!”

Living up to its promise of giving highest priority to Test cricket, the BCCI has decided to give an incentive of Rs 45 lakh per game to all those who would play 75 per cent or more of the scheduled red-ball games in a particular season, Board secretary Jay Shah said on Saturday.

A Test player, who appears in a possible 10 Tests in a season will be richer by a whopping Rs 4.50 crore as incentive apart from a possible Rs 1.5 crore (15 lakh per game) in usual match fee.

Freedom from uncertainty is extremely important for performance! Great step! @BCCI @JayShah https://t.co/AdKo4ClGZQ

— Gautam Gambhir (Modi Ka Parivar) (@GautamGambhir) March 9, 2024

Veteran cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav, who did not get a contract this year, will be paid their “incentive” for the previous season.

The top cricketers also get an assured retainer fee from their annual central contracts.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said the board will spend around Rs 45 crore for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

“With the scheme, the players will earn even more than the IPL contract,. This show IPL is important but bilateral Test cricket is also very important. The total outflow will be Rs 45 crore,” said Shah during interaction with select group of journalists.

In a post on X, Shah added: “I am pleased to announce the initiation of the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ for Senior Men, a step aimed at providing financial growth and stability to our esteemed athletes.”

“Commencing from the 2022-23 season, the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme’ will serve as an additional reward structure on top of the existing match fee for Test matches, set at Rs 15 lakh,” he further stated.

The incentives will be retrospective and would factor in players, who were part of Test cricket during the 2022-23 season.

(With PTI inputs)