Politicians and prominent sportspersons from other fields who have been crying foul after millions were shelled out to cricketers in the Indian Premier League auction, can now take a break.
According to highly placed sources, BCCI has followed up on its promise of contributing to the development of other sports by deciding to fund 50% of the training costs of elite Indian athletes who are medal prospects in the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi.
BCCI had earlier set aside Rs 50 crore to finance training of sportspersons from other disciplines. According to sources, the decision to share training costs of Commonwealth Games athletes might incur, at least, another Rs 50 crore, taking the cricket board's monetary commitment for development of other sports to no less than Rs 100 crore.
The decision was taken on Saturday. BCCI president Sharad Pawar has already met Union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar in this regard, sources said.
Source: Times News Network By Partha Bhaduri Feb-25-08
