Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) In a bid to professionalise and streamline its structure ahead of the 2026-2027 season, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Thursday announced a player contract system, becoming the first state cricket body to introduce such an arrangement.
The players in Grade A are set to be paid between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 20 lakh per annum, whereas the Grade B players will get between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakhs. The players to be placed in Grade C will be paid up to Rs 8 lakhs per annum.
The contracts will vary according to the experience of a player, the number of formats a player has played or plays for Mumbai.
The contracts will be given to those players from Mumbai who have neither played for India in the past two seasons nor have been selected by any team in the Indian Premier League for a similar duration.
The foremost eligibility criteria, meanwhile, demands players to be registered with the state body, they should be meeting the minimum fitness benchmark set by the MCA, and are recommended for contracts by the selection committee.
“This initiative ushers in a new era by providing financial security, professional structure, and long-term development pathways for emerging cricketers,” the MCA said in a statement.
“Mumbai becomes one of the first state associations in India to formalise such a system, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing talent and maintaining its legacy of excellence. The system is designed to support players who are on the cusp of higher honours, ensuring stability and motivation to perform consistently at the domestic level,” it said.
Mumbai’s contracted players will also be entitled to get match fees, daily allowances and performance-based incentives as per the board’s policies.
MCA president Ajinkya Naik said, “This initiative marks a new era for Mumbai cricket. We are proud to be the first association to implement a player contract system — a progressive step that will provide greater security, structure, and growth opportunities for our Mumbai players.” PTI DDV APS DDV PDS PDS PDS
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