Men, women cricketers to get equal match fees

MUMBAI: From once being a cricket body reluctant to integrate women’s cricket under its wings, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday took a historic step towards introducing pay parity in the sport by announcing that India’s women cricketers will be paid the same match fee as men for international matches – ₹15 lakh for every Test, ₹6 lakh for an ODI, and ₹3 lakh for a T20I.

BCCI becomes only the second cricket board after New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to pay its men and women equal match fees.

“I’m pleased to announce @BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing pay equity policy for our contracted @BCCIWomen cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Cricket,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted.

The move was received with cheers by women cricketers, past and present. “Truly a redletter day for women’s cricket in

India with pay parity announced for women and men,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur tweeted. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana declared it “amazing news”, while former captain Mithali Raj called it a “historic decision”.

Australian Lisa Sthalekar, who recently became the first women’s president of FICA – the international cricketers’ association – also welcomed BCCI’s decision. “So pleasing to see this. Huge news for women’s cricket in India, plus life changing for individuals. I have no doubt this will help with the perception of the game in the