Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has revealed the governing body's reason behind dumping the A-plus contract category for players in the forthcoming retention cycle.
There are many reports in the media that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had advocated for the removal of this top-tier category from the four-tier annual retainership system.
The apex governing body has decided to rescind the A-plus category, formerly the most lucrative tier with a Rs 7 crore annual retainer, noting a lack of players capable of always featuring across all three formats.
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The remaining categories - A, B, and C - will continue to carry Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore, and Rs 1 crore valuations, respectively.
“The plan will go ahead very soon. We are removing one category because the players who were eligible for the A-plus category are now playing just one of the three formats. The criteria we have set to qualify a player for A-plus are not being fulfilled,” Saikia told Sportstar.
Last season's A+ category included Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja, but with Rohit and Kohli now only playing in ODIs.
“Some of the players who were in that A-plus bracket have decided not to play all three formats. Therefore, there are not enough players remaining to qualify and fulfil the eligibility criteria. A one-format player will not be eligible for A-plus, so that’s why we had to take a call. There is no heartburn,” he added.
Star players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja face demotion in the upcoming BCCI contracts, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah is likely to retain his high-grade position as the only all-format player.