The BCCI has approved a fee structure revision and introduced a performance-based grading system with annual promotion and relegation for Indian domestic umpires and match referees.
Domestic cricket umpires and match referees in India are set to receive a financial boost following decisions taken at the BCCI Annual General Meeting on Friday. The board approved a proposal to restructure their fees alongside the implementation of a more stringent performance-based grading system. Umpires' match fees are expected to rise by at least 30%.
Under the new arrangement, umpires will be divided into four distinct categories. In a bid to maintain officiating standards across domestic matches, an assessment team will handle match postings based on merit, introducing an annual relegation and promotion mechanism involving 10 umpires per grade.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the revisions following the AGM. "The umpires will now be graded in four categories. Their fees per day have been enhanced substantially. So far as match referees are concerned, we have also revised their match fees structure," Saikia said.
Elaborating on the new promotion and relegation model, Saikia added: "All the umpires’ postings will be done as per merits by the assessment team. And at the end of every season, there will be a relegation and promotion for 10 umpires from each grade. This will make them very alert throughout the season and that will ultimately help the game of cricket."
The move marks the first major fee restructuring for domestic match officials since the 2017-18 season, which was conducted under the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators. Under the previous structure, top-two grade umpires received ₹40,000 per match day, while lower grades received ₹30,000. Match referees were initially paid ₹30,000 per match day after 2017-18 before their daily fee was raised to ₹40,000.
While umpires and referees are set for higher pay, the board has deferred revisions for official scorers. "As far as the scorers are concerned, we will need some more time to assess their situations," Saikia noted.
Highlighting the high stakes involved in domestic officiating, Saikia emphasized the need for precision from match officials: "Some players’ future depends on the decision of the umpires, so they have to be very competent and very alert."
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.