The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to reward women’s cricketers following the Women’s World Cup triumph. Notably, the Indian cricket board approved a significant hike in match fees for women cricketers and officials involved in domestic competitions during the Apex Council meeting.
Indian women’s cricket struggled for financial support in its early years. It was initially run by the Women’s Cricket Association of India, and funding for players was extremely limited. The Indian team received little official backing, even after they reached the final of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in 2005.
Equal Pay Marked a Turning Point for Women’s Cricket in India
Women’s cricket in India began to see change after it came under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Players were given contracts and match fees for the first time. However, the payments were still very low compared to what men received.
Women earned much less for Tests, ODIs, and T20 matches, and domestic players were paid even less because the game had fewer opportunities and low visibility. In October 2022, the BCCI announced equal match fees for men and women cricketers.
Women players then started receiving the same pay as men across all formats. The decision was seen as a historic step, strengthening women’s cricket in India and sending a clear message about fairness and equal value for women players.
BCCI Approves Major Hike in Women’s Domestic Match Fees
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has approved a major hike in match fees for women’s domestic cricket. The decision was made by its Apex Council on Monday.
Under the new structure, senior women players in the playing XI will earn ₹50,000 per day. Reserve players will receive ₹25,000 per day, compared to ₹10,000 previously. In domestic T20 tournaments, the match fee is set at ₹25,000 per day for playing XI members and ₹12,500 for reserves.
Age-group cricketers in the XI will now earn ₹25,000 per day, while reserves will get ₹12,500, earlier ₹10,000 and ₹5,000, respectively. With the revision, an age-group player’s seasonal earnings rise from just over ₹2 lakh to around ₹5 lakh.
According to BCCI officials, a top senior women cricketer who plays a full domestic season across formats can now earn between ₹12 lakh and ₹14 lakh.
Internal Push Led to Junior Pay Revision in Women’s Cricket
According to ESPNcricinfo, the push to revise pay at the junior level came from within the system, with senior state coaches and players urging changes to widen and strengthen the talent base.
The success and visibility of the Women’s Premier League have helped spotlight young talent, while India’s back-to-back Under-19 World Cup titles have boosted interest among younger girls.
“ESPNcricinfo understands that several top state coaches and players had requested such a change internally to help expand an existing talent pool that the WPL has helped amplify. The pay revision at the junior level stems from a growing interest in the game among younger women, with India emerging champions in back-to-back editions of the Under-19 World Cup,” the report read.
Also read: BCCI furious after Pakistan humiliate India U19 in Asia Cup final; Ayush Mhatre in trouble
