Overview
- MCA, which announced the scheme Thursday, will start the annual contracts in the 2026–27 season as the first state body to formalize such deals.
- Players will be slotted into three grades with yearly retainers set at ₹12–20 lakh for Grade A, ₹8–12 lakh for Grade B, and ₹8 lakh for Grade C.
- Eligibility requires MCA registration, meeting fitness benchmarks, no India appearances in the past two seasons, no IPL squad spot over the same period, and selection committee approval.
- Contracted players will also receive match fees, daily allowances, and performance incentives, building on MCA’s 2024 move to match BCCI Ranji payments.
- MCA did not specify whether the contracts cover women’s teams, and reports differ on the scope.