India double cash for Cup winners

MUMBAI, April 27: India´s cricket chiefs on Wednesday doubled the cash bonus for each member of the World Cup winning team amid reports that the players had complained about being poorly rewarded.



"The cash incentive to the members of the World Cup winning Indian team has been increased from 10 million rupees ($225,000) per player to 20 million rupees," the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement.[break]



India won the April 2 final, beating Sri Lanka at Mumbai´s Wankhede stadium and triggering wild celebrations across the country.



But press reports said some players were unhappy about the size of their bonus.



"A player´s life is very uncertain. Who knows what will happen next?" one anonymous player told the Indian Express last week.



A string of state governments and private companies also showered the team with plots of land, luxury houses and money.



Fletcher appointed India coach



Former England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher was on Wednesday appointed as India´s new coach, board officials announced, less than one month after the country won the World Cup on home soil.



India had been on the look-out to replace Gary Kirsten who stepped down from the role following his success in guiding the cricket-crazy nation to victory in the showpiece event.



Fletcher, a former Zimbabwean all-rounder who came to prominence as a coach when reviving the England team over several years and helping them regain the Ashes in 2005, has been appointed to his new role on a two-year contract.



Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N. Srinivasan made the announcement in Mumbai, naming Fletcher over other possible choices including New Zealander Stephen Fleming and Zimbabwean Andy Flower.







Fletcher, a taciturn 62-year-old, takes over one of the most high-pressure jobs in cricket with India due to tour the West Indies in June followed by an important tour of England from July to September.



"The contract with Fletcher is for two years. He may not join the team in the West Indies as he has some prior commitments," Srinivasan told reporters after a BCCI meeting.



India are currently ranked number one in Test cricket, and number two in one-day internationals.

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