When this month ends, the existing contracts of the cricketers with the BCCI will also end. It is the time to select, replace, upgrade and downgrade players. All the 32 players under contract with the BCCI are waiting with their fingers crossed. For some, we can predict. For others only the BCCI internals know. But then the new contracts will not be awarded on basis on performance only. BCCI has a long known history of lobbying and favoring their favorites. What ever be the criteria of awarding contracts, we will know as soon as the results are out.

At the moment, the process of awarding contracts is based on the performance of existing contract holders as well as on the performance of those playing domestic cricket. The number of games played; the ethics; and code of conduct, all play a vital role in the awarding of the contracts to different players.

The BCCI contracts� procedure has four categories: A, B, C, and D. Each grade has its own retainer. The grade A being the highest grade, has a retainer of INR 60 lakhs. Grade B holds INR 40 lakhs and grade C holds INR 25 lakhs. The grade D being lowest carries a retainer of INR 15 lakhs only. Any player who represents India in the international arena while not being in the main contract is put into the last grade.

For the last year�s annual contract, only seven players were in the top grade: Sachin, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Saurav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj, and Anil Kumble. Based on the performances on these players, they may be retained in the same grade or may be degraded.

While we know that Sachin hardly played any ODIs last year owing to his elbow injury, he should be downgraded to B grade. However, as we all know he will not be downgraded due to his popularity, a factor which was never a criterion for awarding contracts. The BCCI needs Sachin in grade A, even he cannot play for another year.

Saurav Ganguly owing to all the negative publicity he got due to his poor performance may well be downgraded. In fact, he will be downgraded as the selectors of the Irani Cup hinted. He was left out of the series, thereby further lessening his chances of retaining the grade A.

Harbhajan Singh and Sehwag may not have played many games in the last tenure but being in good form, they may be upgraded to grade A. But the bottom line is that who will replace the seniors as the BCCI fears introduction of new players on the basis of their performance only. Do we need some politics here again?

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