The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which previously resisted actively recognising women’s cricket as a part of the game, announced on Thursday that India’s women cricketers will receive the same match fee as men for international matches: $15 lakh for each Test, $6 lakh for a One Day International (ODI), and $3 lakh for a T20I. This is a historic step towards achieving pay parity in the sport. After New Zealand Cricket (NZC), BCCI is the only other cricket governing body to pay equal match fees to both its male and female players.
The Resolution And What It Entails
This resolution of parity in payment was approved by the 15th BCCI Apex Council members with a unanimous vote, and Indian cricket players applauded the decision on Twitter, saying it was a positive step towards achieving gender equality in the sport and eliminating discrimination.
In addition to the match-by-match costs, retainer-ship payments are also prevalent in cricket. In addition to match fees, female cricketers in Grades A through C receive annual payments of Rs. 50 lakh, Rs. 30 lakh, and Rs. 10 lakh. Men’s cricket players, who participate in more matches, earn between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 1 crore, depending on their grade, which starts at an A Plus grade. As of right now, nothing will change.
New Total Earnings After Pay Parity
In addition to participating in ICC competitions, India’s women will play in two Test matches, 27 ODIs, and 36 T20 Internationals as part of the first-ever women’s FTP announced by the ICC from May 2022 to April 2025. An Indian male cricketer who participates in all bilateral series during a four-year period will earn Rs. 10.05 crore in match fees with the same number of games as base. If an Indian female cricketer participates in every bilateral match through April 2025, she will earn Rs. 3 crore over the course of three years.
