Symonds to earn $200,000 without hitting a single ball

Sydney, Sep 7 (UNI) Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds might miss next month's India tour, but Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that the dynamic player would be paid as much as any other contracted player.

''CA will continue to pay Symonds his retainer regardless of whether he tours India or not, plus match payments for games he won't play,'' the 'Sunday Telegraph' reported.

This means that the maverick cricketer, who is currently cooling his heels in Gold Coast hinterland after being sent home for going for fishing at the cost of a crucial team meeting during Australia's ODI series against Bangladesh, will earn 2,00,000 dollar for the next three months without facing a single ball.

Confirming that Symonds would receive his full wages during his time out of the game, CA spokesman Peter Young said, ''He's a contracted player and because he's going through a rehabilitation programme at the moment, he will get full retainer payment. We're treating this is the same as if a player was injured.'' Symonds' contract with the CA is worth an estimated 500,000 dollars, but he will earn just 124,999 dollars for the next three months.

The hard-hitting batsman will also be paid the full match payments for the upcoming Indian series as he was a member of the most recent Test side, when ordered to undergo rehabilitation by the CA.

Australian players are paid 17,850 dollar for a Test abroad.

Symonds will earn about 196,400 dollar in total as monthly payment from the CA.

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