Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) on Tuesday, began paying pensions to former Ranji Trophy 150 players in the state, as the resolution earlier this year.

The decision on the pension of former Ranji player was taken in the Executive Committee and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association on March 19.

A function was held at the GCA headquarters to begin the payment of pensions to former cricketers from across the state. About 25 former cricketers attended the event.

While the BCCI gives pension to those players who have played 25 games or more Ranji Trophy, GCA plan covers people who have played less than 25 times and are not entitled to the benefits of Indian cricket board, said Lt. Gen. Secretary Rajesh Patel.

“We decided at our AGM to pay pensions to those who represent the Ranji Trophy cricket in Gujarat, regardless of how many games we played,” said Patel.

“This is a sign of our appreciation for cricketers in Gujarat,” he added.

How to solve GCA, cricketers who played eight games with a maximum of Ranji Trophy should be a monthly pension of Rs 3500, but were up to 16 games should be a monthly pension of Rs 5500. RS 7500 monthly pension paid to players who have played 24 games up to first class.

Patel said the association had received 180 applications for the pension plan, of which 150 were considered eligible.

This pension will be paid on or after November 1, 2010, will be credited to the bank accounts of former cricketers eligible in collaboration with the arrears, he added.

The players who should be covered by a pension Babubhai Shah (80), who played two games during the 1953-57 Ranji and Ambubhai Patel (79), who played 23 matches between 1956 to 1963.

All former Ranji players who have played less than 24 games in 2003-04 and retired from cricket was entitled to a pension.