Fat pay cheques for Zim cricket players

Sport
BY ALBERT MARUFU ZIMBABWE cricket players are each guaranteed at least US$20 000 in appearance fees for their six Group A matches at the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, but they could pocket up to US$30 000, in the event they win matches and progress to the Super Eight.

It is understood the local cricketers are getting at least US$2 500 per player in appearance fees per game and they will play six games even if they do not reach the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

 

Zimbabwe lost their opening World Cup match by 91 runs to Australia last Monday and are set to play their second game against Canada in Nagpur tomorrow.

Never mind the losses, the Zimbabwe players are guaranteed rich pickings from the tournament, according to the contracts they signed with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). The players’ earnings could peak, as there are incentives for a fifty scored in addition to daily allowances.

Ozias Bvute, the ZC chief executive officer said he could not comment on the players earnings from the World Cup.

“We do not reveal such information. It is the players’ choice to do so,” Bvute said.

Standardsport has however been informed by team insiders that the players and coaching staff would walk away with fat pockets after the tournament.  The Zimbabwe players could earn the moniker “Mr Money Bags” in the event they reach the Super Eight as they stand to get a percentage of the prize money.

The ICC has raised the prize money for the 2011 World Cup to a whopping US$10 million in order to underline the importance of its flagship tournament. The amount is double the US$5 million, which was offered  in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. The champions would walk away with the US$3 million, including a replica trophy. The losing finalists would pocket US$1,5 million.

At the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, Zimbabwe failed to progress to the Super Eight stage of the competition after drawing against Ireland, losing to West Indies by six wickets and a 93-run loss to Pakistan.

Despite failing to progress to the Super Eight stage in 2007, the Zimbabwean players each pocketed around US$8 000 after being paid US$2 000 in appearance fees and a series of US$500 incentives based on wickets taken and fifties scored.

Zimbabwe Cricket is also set to earn a huge payout from the ICC accrued from the World Cup revenue from television rights and tickets.

The World Cup payouts underline the local cricketers as the highest paid sportspersons in Zimbabwe. The top franchise players in Grade X earn US$5 000 each month.

The second tier is the Grade A contracted players. Cricketers with these contracts take home at least US$3 500 with Grade B players pocketing a salary of US$2 000. Grade C cricketers earn at least US$1 500, while the lowest grade have a retainer fee of US$300.  Most of the national team players are in Grade X and A.

The following prize money is available at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 (listed in US$): Winning Team     3 million Runner up     1,5million Semi-final losers     750 000 5th Place     370 000 6th Place     370 000 7th Place     370 000 8th Place     370 000 Winners 1st round matches 60 000x 42.