BCCI announces contracts

Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag, two discards for India’s tour of England and Ireland, and Test specialist VVS Laxman have all had their contracts downgraded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Mohammad Kaif has lost his Grade B status altogether and is no longer contracted by the BCCI.

Star ODI performers Yuvraj Singh and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have had their contracts upgraded from Grade B to Grade A and will join superstars Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul David and Anil Kumble in the top echelon of contracted cricketers in India. A woefully out of form Irfan Pathan managed to retain his Grade B contract alongside all-rounder Ajit Agarkar and the three downgraded players.

Youngsters Gautam Gambhir, S Sreesanth and Suresh Raina all remain with Grade C contracts and are joined by fast bowler Munaf Patel and opening batsman Wasim Jaffer.

The one year contract spans from October 1 2006 to September 30 2007.

Grade A: Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Grade B: VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar.
Grade C: Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Jaffer, S. Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Suresh Raina and Munaf Patel.