IPL money will provide stability: Pawar

New Delhi: His father-in-law was paid five rupees to play in a Test match, India's cricket supremo Sharad Pawar recalls, contrasting that with Mahendra Singh Dhoni being auctioned for Rs six crore.

The BCCI President is amused by the raging debate on whether India's cricket stars are being paid too much money under his stewardship which has seen the launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many cricketers hit the jackpot.

The big money is not going to spoil the country's young cricketers, he argues, saying, "The money will provide stability to their lives and help them perform better".

Pawar's father-in-law, a googly bowler, Sadashiv Ganpatrao Shinde, better known as Sadu Shinde, played seven Test matches for India with a best innings haul of six wickets against England in a Test match at Delhi in 1952. That was the time when players were paid Rs five per Test, travelled by boat outside India, stayed at class three hotels or school hostels, Pawar recalled.

Shinde returned from a tour of England and after landing headed straight to Shivaji Park in Mumbai to play a match in more than 40 degree Celsius. He died of sunstroke at 31.

Shinde left his family, including four little daughters, without much support and Vijay Merchant, under whom he had played, organised a benefit match which raised Rs 10,000. Half the amount was spent in education and marriage of the four girls.

The BCCI president says with considerable pride that a newcomer like Ishant Sharma today gets something like Rs 3.8 crore, thanks to the money that has poured into the game.