BCCI is Not Sitting on Pots of Money, Says N. Srinivasan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is not sitting on "pots of money" as is being made out and it shared revenues with players and state associations for promoting the sport, new International Cricket Council Chairman N Srinivasan said on Tuesday.

"BCCI is often much misunderstood. You really do not hear what BCCI has done. It has generated more revenue from 2004 and it has ensured returns for all its state members. 25 state members share the money generated through media rights and sponsors," he said here. (Also read: 'How can N. Srinivasan become ICC chief?')

Srinivasan, who was asked to step down as BCCI president by the Supreme Court pending probe into alleged corruption in the Indian Premier League, was speaking at a felicitation function on his election as the new head of the International Cricket Council, organised by the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Madras Management Association. (Also read: Have Done Nothing to Tarnish the Game, N. Srinivasan to NDTV)

Noting that 26 per cent of money from the total revenue was given to players both at the international and domestic level, he said: "There are lot of comments that BCCI is sitting over pots of money. No, It is not. Very clearly, BCCI is a not-for-profit organisation. BCCI is committed to its members, association and players".

Elaborating, he said an average Ranji Trophy player who was earning mere "hundreds" in the past, earns about Rs 35,000 a day making cricket as an viable career option today.

"He can become a professional player and it offers livelihood for them. This is what we have done to them."

Srinivasan, who was at the helm in the board for several years, claimed BCCI had recognised all its players and provides pensions to former cricketers and umpires. "BCCI has done it without fanfare and looked into it on its own."

BCCI was giving a grant of Rs 50 crore to each of the state associations, he said adding that cricket academies had been set up in various places like Rajkot, Ranchi, Pune.

"It (the money generated) is given back to the game for creating more playgrounds, more facilities, more infrastructure (for Indian cricket). Today the avenues and opportunities for cricketers to improve their skills are huge," he said, adding all these initiatives were backed up by "strong administration" and in a "systematic" way.

"Focus is not only on cricket but also on everything that surrounds it including the infrastructure, the spectators, etc.", he said.