PCA hike prize money for winners

Chandigarh, Aug 25 (UNI) Punjab Cricket Association(PCA) president Inderjit Singh Bindra today said the players of a victorious state team will get double the prize money from now onwards.

''We have decided to double the prize money to be disbursed among the members of the victorious teams. The amount will be separate from the one received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India,'' Mr Bindra said.

Similarly, the PCA has also hiked the prize money amount for winning the Ranji Trophy and other BCCI recognised tournaments.

Denying that the prize money amount had been increased under pressure from the ICL, Mr Bindra said these decisions were taken four years ago.

Mr Bindra calculated that if a cricketer played in all big tournaments including the Ranji Trophy, his earning would come to approximately Rs 30 to 35 lakh per annum. It comes to Rs 35,000 per playing day per match.

The PCA disbursed approximately Rs 12 lakh among its junior players and their coaches for bringing laurels to the state and association.

Punjab last year won the Under-15 Polly Umrigar Trophy and the Under-17 Vijay Merchant Trophy. They also finished runners-up in the Under-19 Vinood Malkad Trophy.

Coaches Krishan Mohan and Munish Bali were rewarded with Rs 50,000 each.

Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA), affiliated to the PCA was adjudged the the best team. CCA secretary Mohinder Singh received a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh from IS Bindra. Patiala Cricket Association was voted as the second best and was richer by Rs 1.25 lakh.

Karan Goel was presented a cheque of Rs one lakh as he was declared the best player among seniors. Mandeep Singh and Siddharath Kaul were jointly declared the best players among juniors. They shared the prize money of Rs 50,000.

Bindra also announced that the prize money in the senior section was raised to Rs one lakh from Rs 50,000 last year and in the junior section prize money amount was Rs 25,000.

UNI