Shami left out of BCCI annual contracts

Mumbai March 7 (IANS) Seamer Mohammed Shami found himself out of the Board of Control for Cricket in India s (BCCI) 26-member annual contracts system which saw the addition of a new category.

The removal of Shami may be a coincidence with the ongoing controversy involving his wife who accused the Bengal pacer who was in the B category in the last term of domestic violence and extra-marital affairs.

The new category termed A+ includes captain Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Shikhar Dhawan Jasprit Bumrah Bhuvneshwar Kumar -- all of them entitled to Rs 7 crore as annual pay.

Delhi left-handed opening batsman Dhawan has seen a meteoric rise as he was in the C category last year.

Former captain and talismanic wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was placed in the A category and will take home Rs 5 crore.

Meanwhile 19 women cricketers have been given contracts across three categories. In the A category Mithali Raj Jhulan Goswami Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana will get Rs 50 lakh each per year. The players in the B category will get Rs 30 lakh. A new C category has been declared with the players in this category standing to earn Rs 10 lakh per year.

--IANS
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