BCCI just announced equal match payments for men and women (international) cricketers. Jay Shah, board secretary, and ACC president, tweeted the decision on Oct. 27.
Several existing and former cricketers, sport-related staff, and the general audience reacted positively to the move. Rareness makes it remarkable.
Equal Pay Movement’s Beginning
Billie Jean King, a 39-time major winner, started the ‘Original 9’ move in 1973. King pushed for equal pay with eight other female tennis players.
She fought for women’s rights, helped organize women’s trips, and found sponsors. She was the inaugural president of the WTA in 1974.
The US Open was the first grand slam to pay men and women equally. Australian and French Opens followed in 2001 and 2006.
Wimbledon, the oldest grand slam, started paying men’s and women’s singles champions €2,000,000 in 2007.
BCCI supports equal pay
India’s men’s and women’s international players will now collect INR 15 lakhs every Test, INR 6 lakhs per ODI, and INR 3 lakhs per T20I. The annual contract charge remains the same. Indian ladies have done well this year. The team earned silver at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games after losing to Australia.
Later, a 3-0 win over England in the ODI series was their best since 2017. This month, they won the Asia Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur led India to victory over Sri Lanka.
The contracts show a huge difference in annual compensation. Here is a table with salary information.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, receives 50 lakhs, half of what Umesh Yadav makes.
The board may consider annular contract increments. According to rumors, the BCCI is negotiating with elite Indian women cricketers.
Global Equal Pay
The top-ranked White Ferns players will receive a maximum of $163,246 (up from $83,432), while domestic women cricketers may receive $19,146 (up from $3,423).
CA and ECB also showed interest.
CA pumped $1.2 million into WBBL and WNCL player salaries last year. The decision raised average pay to $65,000. Domestic male cricketers earn an average of $198,000 a year. Match payments vary from base earnings.
Australia’s international stage was unaffected. Nick Hockley, CA’s CEO:”But there’s still a disparity compared to men.”
This year, the ECB gave men and women equal prize money in The Hundred. Oval Invincibles won €150,000, as did Trent Rockets.
Men and women cricketers get paid differently. At this rate, ‘equal pay’ may not be long off. It’s BCCI’s best stance ever.
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