WELLINGTON, March 2: As New Zealand continue to try and recover from the loss of key players to the cash-rich Indian Cricket League (ICL), those players who are staying put are set for a major pay rise following the financial boost from last year’s rights deal with Sony TV.

According to The Herald on Sunday, the leading players are in line for a six-figure bonus as the increase will be back-dated to June 2006, while even semi-professional state players stand to benefit.

The rise will be close to 40 per cent and the increases will mean New Zealand’s highest contracted players will now receive NZ$174,000 as a retainer which reduces in $6000 increments down to numbers 18-20 on the contract list. On the domestic scene salaries will range from $19,500-$36,000 instead of the current $12,000-$24,000.

These pay rises have been announced at a time when a number of leading players – most notably Shane Bond and Lou Vincent – have turned their back on New Zealand for the riches of the ICL.

Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, hopes that the greater financial rewards now on offer will encourage players to pursue a longer career at home.

“This will keep players staying in the game longer,” he said. “That’s what you want. If you look at New Zealand cricket over the past 10 years the players who don’t think they’ve got a chance of playing international cricket retire in their late-20s.

“We want more Michael Parlanes playing, guys that can teach the younger ones what first-class cricket is about. It adds a lot of depth and solidity to our domestic game. “It’s hard to compete with the chequebook numbers of the ICL but it is good.”—Agencies