The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took a significant step towards uplifting women’s and junior cricket by announcing prize money for the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament in all domestic competitions. This exciting development, shared by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), is poised to be a game-changer for domestic cricket in India.
By introducing these awards, the BCCI aims to not only recognize the outstanding performances of players but also to boost their confidence by honoring their exceptional contributions on the field. This initiative serves as a catalyst that could elevate the standard of domestic cricket, encouraging more players to shine in the competitive arena.
The 2024-25 Indian domestic season for women’s cricket is set to kick off with the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy on 17th October. Following this, the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy, and the Senior Women’s Multiday Trophy are among the others which will take the center stage, promising an action-packed season ahead.
Jay Shah expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “We are introducing prize money for the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament in all Women’s and Junior Cricket tournaments under our Domestic Cricket Programme. Additionally, prize money will be awarded for the Player of the Match in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments for Senior Men.”
He further added, “This initiative aims to recognize and reward outstanding performances in the domestic circuit. A heartfelt thank you to the Apex Council for their unwavering support in this endeavor. Together, we are fostering a more rewarding environment for our cricketers. Jai Hind.”
This announcement follows the BCCI’s move in April 2023 to increase the prize money for domestic tournaments, where the winners of the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy received Rs 50 lakh, while the runners-up took home Rs 25 lakh.
With these initiatives, including pay parity for senior nations men’s and women’s teams, the BCCI is not only setting new benchmarks but also creating a more encouraging and competitive environment for cricketers across the country.