New Delhi, Sept 25: Team India’s remarkable victory over the traditional arch-rivals Pakistan in the finals of Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa has brought cheers on the faces of millions of cricket lovers in India and across the globe and now its raining cash on Indian cricketers apart from plaudits and adulations.
To honour the men-in-blue, who ended a 24-year wait by bringing back home the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup crown, several state governments, political parties, the central government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced incentives and monetary rewards for the Indian cricketers.
Praising the feat achieved by the skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men, the BCCI chief Sharad Pawar had declared an award of USD 3 million for the whole team. Besides, he has also announced a whopping Rs 1 crore for the dashing left-hander Yuvraj Singh, who enthralled the spectators by smashing six consecutives sixes in an over. The “prince of sixers” will also get an expensive Porsche 919 luxury car for becoming the first batsman to hit six sixes in the Twenty20 format of the game.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Prafful Patel has announced that the Team India would now be entitled for a free travel in the country’s flagship career Air India for five years. Six Indian cricketers, also the employees of Air India, would be promoted out-of-turn in recognition of their achievement.
Equaling Team India’s victory at Wanderers in South Africa with the 1983 victory of the Indian team led by cricket legend Kapil Dev, the minister said that master striker Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan, who bagged the Man of the Match award in the finals, would be among those who would be promoted shortly. Patel said that Dhoni and his boys have brought laurels and joy to millions of passionate fans by upsetting Pakistan and thus deserve all the recognition and rewards, which would motivate them to keep the team’s spirit high in future events.
Political parties such as the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) has declared 1.16 lakhs each for skipper Dhoni, Pathan and Gautam Gambhir.
The state governments are not lagging far behind, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each for Mumbai-based Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma for their contribution in Team India’s success.
The Uttar Pradesh government of Chief Minister Mayawati has decided to confer the first Manyavar Kanshiramji International Sports Award to pacer Rudra Pratap Singh, who played an important role in India`s title run. The prize also carries a cash award of Rs 10 lakh.
Medium pacer Joginder Sharma, who through his superb bowling in the last over brought victory for team India, would get a cash reward of Rs 21 lakh announced by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Skipper Dhoni would be felicitated with the title of `Jharkhand Ratna` on November 15 and a surprise bonanza also awaits him, according to Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda.
Speedster S Srisanth, who maintained a consistent line and length through out the tournament and gave India the much-needed breakthrough in the middle overs, would get Rs five lakhs announced by the Kerala government. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has also announced Rs five lakh cash award to Robin Uthappa and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad. Also, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has announced Rs five lakhs each for master blaster Virender Sehwag, and the upcoming star of the Indian cricket Gautam Gambhir, for giving a fine start to their team in the tournament.
Apart from the cash and various incentives, the men-in-blue will also get the tournament prize money of USD 490,000 for becoming the world champions.
Zeecric Bureau
