Bhutan Cricket Council Board is introducing a system to grade and recruit players on contract. This is to foster professionalism and support the future of the sport in the country. Close to 40 players, including both male and female athletes, will be contracted as part of this initiative. The players will be categorised into four grades and paid accordingly based on their performance and potential.
Six players will be recruited in grade A, three females and three males. They will receive a monthly salary of Nu 30,000.
To qualify, athletes must be national team members with consistent top-level performance.
Players in grade B, five males and five females, will earn Nu 20,000 monthly. To get selected in grade B, athletes must be either national team members or domestic stars with potential for national call-ups.
Fourteen players, seven males and seven females, will be paid Nu 10,000 per month in grade C. Emerging players under the ages of 17, 19, or 23 are eligible for this grade.
Eight players, four males and four females, will be contracted for the Development and Academic player category. These individuals should show potential for junior team call-ups and are considered upcoming academic players. They will be paid Nu 5,000 per month.
The CEO of the Bhutan Cricket Council Board, the Development Coach of both male and female athletes, and the coach of the under-19 team will be selecting the players.
“We want to improve our play since we play World Cup qualifiers, regional Asia qualifiers, and international cricket from under 16 to the senior level. We lack consistency. Sometimes we play so well and sometimes we don’t. So, it all comes back to how we prepare ourselves,” said Damber Singh Gurung, the CEO of the Bhutan Cricket Council Board.
The contract for all grades will be valid for a year, with renewal contingent on player performance.
A key condition is that players must meet fitness benchmarks set by the Bhutan Cricket Council Board, which will be assessed every year.
Players failing to maintain the required fitness will have their contracts terminated, and the contract will then be offered to other deserving players.
Namgay Wangdi
Edited by Phub Gyem
