In a historic move on Thursday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), India’s cricket governing body, announced an equal match fee for both men’s and women’s cricketers in the country.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced the historical development in a tweeter: “I’m pleased to announce BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted women cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian Cricket.”
BCCI secretary Shah also highlighted the new fees for the contracted players and stressed that the Indian Women’s cricket team will earn the same match fees as their male counterparts.
“The @BCCIWomen cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (INR 15 lakhs), ODI (INR 6 lakhs), T20I (INR 3 lakhs). Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the Apex Council for their support. Jai Hind,” he added in another tweet.
Cutting across the sporting fraternity, the move gets an overall applause. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur took to social media to express happiness at the move, calling it a “red letter day for women’s cricket in India. “Truly a red-letter day for Women’s Cricket in India with pay parity announced for women and men. Thank you @BCCI and @JayShah.”
Legendary Indian batter and former batter Mithali Raj said with this move and the Women’s IPL next year, the country is stepping into a new era of women’s cricket.
“This is a historic decision for women’s cricket in India!”
Former Indian spin great Harbhajan Singh extended his congratulations to BCCI by tweeting, “Happy to know that @BCCI has taken the decision of pay equity policy for sportspersons in cricket. BCCI has set a standard for other sports bodies. A historic milestone indeed!”
The National Commission for Women (NCW) also welcomed the decision. The chairperson, Rekha Sharma, said, “Women cricketers earning the same match fee as their male counterparts heralds a new era of equal opportunities and is a significant advancement toward achieving gender equality. Additionally, it will also encourage greater participation of women in sports.”