The story is frivolous but might be of interest to some.
CRICKETERS are probably the highest paid sportspersons in Zimbabwe with top franchise players in Grade X earning US$5 000 each month, it has been learnt.
The establishment of the franchise system has come as a welcome relief to cricketers, who are earning thousands of dollars each month. In the past local players would have to earn national colours to be contracted by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
According to a ZC insider, the cricket body has put in place a payment structure divided into five grades for the franchises.
Most of the franchises top cricketers are in Grade X and pocket U$5 000 each month.
The second tier is the Grade A contracted players. Cricketers with these contracts take home at least US$3 500.
Then there is the Grade B players who pocket a salary of US$2 000. Grade C cricketers earn US$1 500.
The lowest Grade is the one classified as the Rookie.
The Rookies have a retainer fee of US$300.
The players are graded according to their value to their franchise and are mostly national team players.
Top players like Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikinyeri were reported to be in Grade X when Mutare based Mountaineers contracted them.
Matabeleland’s Tuskers also have several players in Grade X — the likes of Gavin Ewing, Terrence Duffin and Charles Coventry.
The country’s franchises are Mountaineers, Mash Eagles, Mid West Rhinos, Southern Rocks and Tuskers.
All these franchises receive money from ZC for their administrative and running costs.
The hope is that in due course they would become self-sufficient and attract their own sponsorship.
The franchises are free to negotiate with any player, coach or staff of their choice to be part of their set-up.
The coming of the franchise system has changed the cricket landscape as the players also earn more, when they are called to the national team.
This means that when they play for the national team they get match fees. The match fees vary according to the type of game that the national team is playing. Test matches attract the highest fee followed by ODIs.
As for now Zimbabwe voluntarily suspended its Test status meaning that it is only playing in ODIs.
Professional sportspersons salaries have always been a contentious subject in Zimbabwe but it is understood that cricketers are the highest paid sportspersons in the country at the moment.
Most of the sporting disciplines such as a basketball, volleyball, tennis, athletics, boxing and rugby are still being played at amateur level in the country.
Footballers are probably the second highest paid sportspersons in the country.
The players are reported to be earning monthly salaries pegged between US$300 – US$800 depending on clubs. The players also get winning bonuses in the range of US$80 – US$200 per match. The footballers also stand to benefit for participating in the group stages of competitions like the African
Champions League. Dynamos players are taking home US$1 000 for winning a match.
The media rarely reveals how much local athletes make in their day-to-day endeavors.
Standardsports desk received a lot of calls last week after we published a story detailing how much Taibu and Matsikenyeri were making at Mountaineers.
In India for instance it is common knowledge that captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni was the highest earner in 2009.
For the first time after many years Dhoni dislodged Sachin Tendulkar as the highest paid Indian cricketer after making over US$10 million.
The Little Master was not very far behind making US$8 million over the same period.
It is also public knowledge that Yaya Toure is the highest paid footballer in England after his move to Manchester City from Barcelona.
The Ivorian is taking home a cool 200 000 pounds a week at Eastlands way more than what Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard are earning at Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
The same goes for Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso's salary at Ferrari, which stands at US$19 million a year. Professional sport is all about the money one earns during their playing time.
But it's decent money for the Logan Cup journeyman who'll never be picked for Tests. Good lifestyle for something you love, not bad methinks.
