Friday, September 1 2006 11:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) Thursday (31 Aug, 2006) launch its official ratings for international and domestic cricket, including women and juniors, but prefers to keep the prize money on offer a secret till close to the planned grand annual awards in April, 2007 at Mumbai.

Launching the ratings, which cover all segments with a broad base including batsmen, bowling, fielding and all-round performance, BCCI Vice President Lalit Modi says the official ratings have been introduced to reward performances, which largely remain unrecognized, especially in domestic cricket.

The categories are: Best Test and ODI batsman, bowler, fielder and all-rounder; best Test and ODI opening batsman, most consistent/reliable ODI and Test player; Best Test and ODI innings of the year.

The popular categories are: Test and ODI player of the year; My favourite player; Most stylish player and master blaster of the year while viewers' voting categories would include Player of the Week and My favourite player.

The ratings system is done based on parameters defined by the BCCI panel that includes cricketers and statisticians. For the first time in such ratings processes the public would be able to participate by casting their votes through various channels, Modi says.

"But we are keeping details of the awards close to our chest till the last moment and the annual awards ceremony would be held at the end of the season, in April," Modi says.

The BCCI ratings process is being done in partnership with Percept Holdings, he adds.