The long-awaited call by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work‘ is finally answered which comes out to the public as a landmark and historic move with the board has announced equal pay for all centrally contracted men and women cricketers.
The current active pay format sees the BCCI contracted women cricketers fall under 3 grades which had Grade A players receive ₹50 lakh annually, Grade B players receive ₹30 lakhs annually and Grade C players receive ₹10 lakhs annually. The landmark decision that the BCCI has now announced will see its female contracted players now take home the same match fee as their male counterparts, i.e; ₹15 Lakh for each Test, ₹6 Lakh for each One-Day International (ODI) and ₹3 Lakh for each Twenty20 International (T20I) game.
Indian all-format skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur in a video-recorded statement Tweeted on the BCCI Women handle is heard saying, “First of all I welcome this decision and we always talk about equality and first time in India now we are getting equal pay as men’s are getting and I’m really happy. I’m really happy this is happening now and I’m sure now lot of girls in India will take cricket as professional career.”
Watch Harmanpreet Kaur’s reaction
.@ImHarmanpreet reflects on a decision from the @BCCI that makes Indian cricket history!#BelieveInBlue pic.twitter.com/PBrLz4o12X
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 27, 2022
A wider picture where male and female cricketers draw the same sums is still far from achieved, but it’s a big first step taken forward in the direction to close out the pay difference which is directly impacted by the number of games a side plays. Women’s cricket is a booming industry that’s rocketing at some pace which calls for moving developments and with the International Cricket Council (ICC) getting started with the Future Tour Programme (FTP) this time around for women cricketers, it’s just another first big step in the right direction.
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. pic.twitter.com/xJLn1hCAtl
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) October 27, 2022
It is understood that the BCCI is in talks with the country’s top women cricketers to work out changes to the annual retainers. The sides skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur is believed to have attended a meeting held at the board’s headquarters in Mumbai. The 2021 contracts saw only 3 players in the highest pay, Grade A bracket, while Grade B and C have 10 and 6 players respectively which seems very unfair of many names missing out on the top bracket.
As per the current active Annual Contracts, here’s what the 🇮🇳cricketers earn 👇 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/gJ4hLSZ1PQ
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 27, 2022
BCCI Secretary, Mr Jay Shah Tweeted the historic decision which read, “I’m pleased to announce @BCCI’s the first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted @BCCIWomen 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 Cricket”.
He further added, “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 🇮🇳.”
Reacting to Mr Secretary’s Tweet, former Indian skipper and an icon of women’s cricket, Mithali Raj commented, “This is a historic decision for women’s cricket in India! The pay equity policy along with the WIPL next year, we are ushering into a new era for women’s cricket in India. Thank you @JayShah Sir & the @BCCI for making this happen. Really happy today.”
India’s all-format skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur called the day a red letter one, her Tweet read, “Truly a red letter day for Women’s Cricket in India with pay parity announced for women and men. Thank you @BCCI and @JayShah.”
Another former Indian skipper and an icon of women’s cricket, Jhulan Goswami on Mr Jay Shah’s announcement Tweet quoted, “Great initiative from @BCCI and @JayShah sir for the upliftment of women’s cricket. This will motivate young girls in taking cricket as a career. It’s also an imp. step in creating gender equality in the society & hopefully other sports will follow BCCI’s footsteps. @BCCIWomen.”
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