BCCI mulls three-season contract for 'professional' players

BCCI is mulling the idea of introducing a new system whereby the state associations will have to sign up ‘professional’ players for three seasons, TOI has learnt. At the moment, state units sign up players for one, or two seasons. “This idea was discussed in the apex council meeting of the BCCI on Thursday.

It was felt that certain associations aren’t meting out proper treatment to ‘professionals,’ dumping them as per their will. From this season, we might introduce a system which will make it mandatory for them to sign up players for three seasons,” a source in the Board told this paper. Two annual emerging tours, U-16 one-day trophy for girlsThe BCCI will ensure that two tours of ‘emerging teams’ — practically the ‘A’ sides, are organized annually for women’s cricketers.

“Like it happened in the case of men’s cricket, this will help us build a solid bench strength for women’s cricket in India,” a source said. New software to detect age-fraudThe BCCI wants to try out a new ‘BoneXpert software’ to detect age fraud at the under-16 level, when it holds the Vijay Merchant Trophy. As per a Board document (in possession of TOI) , the new software will make age detection of a player much cheaper and faster.

A+ category for umpiresThe BCCI has introduced a new gradation system for umpires. Ten umpires, including KL Ananthapadmanabhan, Anil Chaudhary, Madangopal Jayaraman, Nitin Menon and Virender Sharma have been ranked A+. 20 umpires are in the A category, 60 in B, 46 in C and 11 umpires are in D category.