The Board of Control for Cricket in India is likely to increase the pay packets of team physio Andrew Leipus and trainer Adrian le Roux and provide them more secure terms of employment.
"Instead of the existing arrangement of payments on the basis of a week's services, the two could be offered a yearly contract," confided a high-ranking official, ahead of the BCCI's Finance Committee meeting in Delhi on Monday.
Currently, Leipus is paid 2,000 Australian dollars (appx Rs 58,000) per week while le Roux gets 1,050 US dollars (appx Rs 50,400) a week.
"They are likely to be offered a year's contract by the committee, which will naturally ensure a better pay packet for them," the official said.
In return for the yearly offer, the Board will utilise the services of these two support staff at the National Cricket Academy when they are not with the Indian team.
While le Roux has earned a reputation for himself as a fine physical trainer, first with the Free State in South Africa and now with the Indian team, Leipus is a professional physio with a degree in Sports Sciences from Australia.
Coach John Wright too will be offered another year's contract though his yearly remuneration of $175,000 is unlikely to be hiked.
Wright has already been assured a year's extension by the Board but unlike the previous two occasions, the New Zealander will have to lend his services to the NCA when there are no international engagements.
The Finance Committee will take up a host of other important financial issues, including that of outstanding dues from the team's sponsors, Sahara India, which, according to an official, runs into billions.
Many reasons -- including the washed-out finals in the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September last year -- have been cited for withholding the payment, the official said.
Sahara India were also not allowed to display their original logo during the Champions Trophy and World Cup because of ICC regulations on ambush marketing. The ICC had contended that Sahara's logo clashed with the interests of one of event's official sponsors, South African Airways (SAA).
Another important item on the Finance Committee's agenda is looking into various facets of the NCA, which is assuming a bigger role in Indian cricket with every passing day.
The committee will look into the budget allotment for the NCA, expenditures on seminars and, among other things, the new property which is being acquired for the academy's activities.
Another matter is pending Income Tax cases.
One of the issues outside the purview of the committee is the money being withheld by the ICC for the World Cup. The ICC has not released the money -- about 8-9 million dollars -- due to the Board on account of sponsorship disputes with Indian cricketers which had dogged the two events in Sri Lanka and South Africa.
The ICC cited the possibility of its sponsors claiming damages for nonfulfillment of contract obligations by the Indian players and it, in turn, intends to recover the losses from the defaulting member Boards.
"So far, I do not think any damages have been claimed by the sponsors (Global Cricket Corporation) but this is a matter already under arbitration," commented the official.
