Individual pay, performance and career stages: A study in the context of the Men’s cricket team of India

Abstract

Extensive research has been done in the field of professional sports and interesting implications have been drawn for organizations. Using Cricket as a professional sport we study the linkage between pay, performance and career stages, based on Equity Theory, Expectancy Theory and Career Stage Theory. Career Stages was operationalized as consisting of three stages- initiation, development and iconic. We found support for Equity theory in both over reward and under reward scenarios for the players identified in development stage of the career. We also found statistical support for over reward leading to increase in performance. Our results also indicate higher influence of Expectancy Theory over Equity Theory during Initiation stage of Career for batting and vice-versa for bowling