The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has taken a significant step towards supporting domestic cricket by becoming the first state cricket association in India to introduce annual retainers for both its men’s and women’s players.
Under the new initiative, 22 players will receive annual contracts, including 14 men and eight women. The scheme is designed to provide financial security to players who are not part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) central contract system or its targeted player groups.
The retainers have been structured across three grades, with players in both the men’s and women’s categories receiving the same amount at each level.
Grade A players will receive INR 12 lakh annually, while Grade B players will receive INR 8 lakh and Grade C players will receive INR 6 lakh.
The move is being viewed as an important development for domestic cricket, particularly because it provides players with financial support beyond match fees and tournament-related earnings.
MCA Introduces Equal Pay Structure
One of the most notable aspects of the MCA’s new initiative is that the annual retainer amounts are identical for male and female players.
Players in Grade A will earn INR 12 lakh, those in Grade B will receive INR 8 lakh, while Grade C players will be paid INR 6 lakh.
The decision creates a uniform financial structure across the men’s and women’s teams and provides greater recognition to players representing Mumbai at the domestic level.
The initiative also addresses an important gap between centrally contracted players and those who remain outside the BCCI’s national contract system.
Domestic cricketers often spend months training and competing without the financial security available to established international players. An annual retainer can provide greater stability and allow players to concentrate more fully on their cricket.
Siddhesh Lad and Shams Mulani Among Men’s Contracted Players
Several experienced Mumbai men’s players have been included in the new retainer system.
Batters Siddhesh Lad and spin-bowling allrounder Shams Mulani have been placed in Grade A, the highest category.
Fast bowler Mohit Avasthi and wicketkeepers Akash Anand and Hardik Tamore have been included in Grade B.
Eight other players have been placed in Grade C. The group includes allrounders Sairaj Patil and Himanshu Singh.
The selection reflects the MCA’s effort to provide financial backing to players who have contributed significantly to Mumbai’s domestic cricket structure.
For senior players who are not currently centrally contracted by the BCCI, such support can be particularly valuable in sustaining a professional cricket career.
Women’s Players Also Receive Annual Contracts
The MCA has extended the same retainer structure to its women’s players.
Humaira Kazi and Vrushali Bhagat have been placed in Grade A, making them the highest-paid players under the women’s retainer programme.
Sanika Chalke is the sole player in Grade B.
Five other players, including left-arm seamer Fatima Jaffer, have been included in Grade C.
The inclusion of eight women’s players is significant because it provides additional financial recognition to players competing in the domestic women’s cricket system.
The decision also comes at a time when women’s cricket in India is experiencing rapid growth through increased investment, professional opportunities and franchise competitions.
Retainers Come With Additional Payments
The annual retainers will not be the only source of income for the contracted players.
In addition to their retainers, players will continue to receive match fees, daily allowances and performance-based incentives.
This means that players can potentially earn significantly more depending on their appearances and performances during the season.
The structure provides a combination of guaranteed income and performance-linked rewards.
For domestic players, this can create a stronger financial incentive to maintain high standards throughout the season.
Move Fulfils a Long-Standing Vision
The MCA’s decision comes more than seven years after former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly identified the financial support of domestic players as one of his priorities after taking charge of Indian cricket’s governing body.
While Ganguly is no longer in office, the issue of improving domestic cricketers’ financial security has remained an important topic in Indian cricket.
The MCA’s latest initiative could therefore be viewed as the implementation of an idea that has been discussed within Indian cricket for several years.
The move may also encourage other state associations to examine similar models for supporting their own players.
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MCA Continues to Invest in Domestic Cricket
The annual retainer scheme is not the first major financial initiative introduced by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
In the 2024-25 season, the association provided a 100 per cent increase in payments to its senior men’s team.
The move effectively doubled the amount players could earn during the domestic season.
These initiatives demonstrate the MCA’s growing focus on improving the financial rewards available to domestic cricketers.
With competition for places becoming increasingly intense, better financial support can also help prevent talented players from being forced to look for opportunities outside cricket.
Ajinkya Rahane Scholarship Fund Announced
The MCA has also established a scholarship fund in honour of former India and Mumbai batter Ajinkya Rahane following his retirement earlier this year.
The fund recognises Rahane’s contribution to Mumbai and Indian cricket and is intended to support grassroots cricketers.
Former MCA president Sharad Pawar has contributed to the scholarship fund.
The initiative is aimed at helping young players at the beginning of their cricketing journeys and strengthening the grassroots structure from which Mumbai has traditionally produced elite cricketers.
The combination of player retainers and grassroots scholarships means the MCA is attempting to address multiple stages of the cricket development pathway.
Growing Focus on Domestic Cricket
The MCA’s latest initiatives come amid a broader debate about the importance of domestic cricket in India.
The BCCI has introduced financial incentives to encourage centrally contracted players to prioritise Test cricket and domestic red-ball cricket.
Under the BCCI’s Test incentive structure, match fees can rise substantially for players who participate in a high percentage of Tests during a season.
These developments have encouraged former players and administrators to call for greater investment in domestic cricket as well.
While international cricket provides the highest profile and financial rewards, India’s domestic structure remains the foundation for identifying and developing future international players.
State associations therefore play a critical role in creating an environment where talented cricketers can continue developing without excessive financial pressure.
Equal Retainers Send a Strong Message
The decision to offer the same annual retainer amounts to men’s and women’s players is perhaps the most significant aspect of the MCA’s announcement.
Women’s domestic cricket has expanded considerably in recent years, but financial opportunities at the state level have not always matched the growth of the sport.
By placing male and female players within the same retainer framework, the MCA has provided a clear indication that both groups are considered important parts of its cricketing structure.
The initiative could also serve as a model for other state associations looking to strengthen women’s domestic cricket.
What the MCA’s Decision Means for Players
For players outside the BCCI’s central contract system, earning an annual retainer can provide considerable peace of mind.
Instead of relying entirely on match fees and tournament payments, contracted players will have a guaranteed annual income.
This could allow them to invest more time in training, fitness, recovery and skill development.
For younger players, the opportunity is equally important. Financial stability during the early stages of a career can make it easier to remain committed to professional cricket while working towards higher honours.
The performance incentives attached to the scheme also ensure that players continue to have a financial motivation to perform consistently.
A Potential Model for Other State Associations
The MCA’s decision could have implications beyond Mumbai.
Other state cricket associations may now face greater pressure to consider similar annual retainer systems for domestic players.
The financial gap between centrally contracted international players and domestic cricketers has been a recurring issue in Indian cricket. A state-level retainer system could help bridge part of that gap.
If more associations introduce comparable schemes, domestic cricket could become a more financially sustainable career path for a larger pool of players.
A Significant Step for Indian Domestic Cricket
The Mumbai Cricket Association’s annual retainer programme represents more than a new payment structure. It reflects a broader effort to recognise the contribution of domestic cricketers and provide them with greater financial security.
With 22 players receiving contracts, equal retainers for men and women, additional match fees and performance incentives, the scheme provides a comprehensive financial support system.
The MCA’s Ajinkya Rahane scholarship fund also adds a grassroots dimension to its recent initiatives, ensuring that support is not limited to established players.
As Indian cricket continues to grow commercially, the strength of its domestic system will remain crucial. Mumbai has now taken a notable step towards ensuring that its players are better supported throughout their careers.
The success of the retainer programme could ultimately determine whether other state associations follow the MCA’s lead and make annual contracts a more common feature of Indian domestic cricket.