BCCI gives in, raises World Cup bonus to 2 crore each for players

MUMBAI: Team India's continuous "informal protest" over the cash incentive for winning the ICC World Cup has been taken seriously by the BCCI. On Wednesday, the board announced an increment in the cash incentive to each member of the winning team - from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crores.
Players had been speaking off the record about some not being happy with the bonuses that had come their way post the stupendous show in the World Cup.
It is learnt that the board, after a discussion amongst its office-bearers, came to the conclusion that the players had all the right to demand for more and decided to adequately compensate them. None of the players, though, were willing to come on the record for the same when contacted.
Simons to continue
After working with the Indian team from the start of 2011 and helping them get through the tour of Bangladesh, followed by South Africa and finally the World Cup, South African Eric Simons' stint with the Indian team has helped him reap rich rewards.
Impressed with his performance under Kirsten, BCCI's on Wednesday retained Simons as the bowling coach of the Indian team. The 43-year-old, who played 23 one-day internationals for South Africa, was the country's former national coach too - in 2002-04 when Gary Kirsten was a member of the team.
Kirsten recommended to BCCI to continue with Simons because he felt that his presence largely benefited the pace bowlers in the last four months.
It has been learnt that Simons will travel with the Indian team to the tour of West Indies, but the team's newly appointed main coach, Duncan Fletcher will only join the squad ahead of the tour of England because of prior commitments.