Sport · India Bureau
BCCI overhauls umpire pay structure with merit-based promotion system
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has substantially increased remuneration for umpires and match referees while introducing a streamlined grading system with performance-based progression. The overhaul marks the first revision in nearly a decade.
LSN India ·
The BCCI has restructured its umpire compensation framework, raising daily fees significantly across all grades while consolidating the number of official categories, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced following the board's annual general meeting on Friday.
Under the new structure, umpires will be classified into four grades—A, B, C and D—compared to the previous A+, A, B and C system. Daily remuneration will increase to Rs 60,000, Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively, representing substantial increases from the current rates where top-grade umpires earned Rs 40,000 for senior domestic tournaments and Rs 20,000 for T20 matches.
Saikia noted that the previous compensation framework had remained unchanged since 2017-18, making the revision overdue. "We have done a restructuring of their categories after almost 10 years," he told reporters, adding that match referees would also benefit from enhanced pay packages.
Crucially, the revised system introduces a promotion and relegation mechanism based on merit, enabling umpires to progress through grades based on performance evaluations. This merit-driven approach aims to incentivize quality officiating while providing a transparent pathway for professional advancement within the BCCI's umpiring cadre.