Replace R Ashwin instead of Harbhajan in BCCI’s 1 crore contract list

Rising off-spinner R Ashwin today replaced out-of-form senior tweaker Harbhajan Singh in the top bracket of BCCI’s list of central retainership contracts.the highest – of the BCCI’s list of central contracts for 2012-13. The annual retainers are worth Rs 1 crore for Grade A, Rs 50 lakh for Grade B and Rs 25 lakhs for Grade C. And The test spinner from Harbhajan last year, has joined the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and the Indian opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the top bracket. Irfan Pathan is also a major beneficiary of the BCCI’s scheme, earning a Grade B contract after previously being ignored for the past two seasons. The three more than last season with batsman Rohit Sharma being the only one to have retained his contract.