The disparity in salary contracts among women cricketers across the national boards of India, Australia, and New Zealand reflects a broader narrative of inequity within the sport. As the popularity and professionalism of women’s cricket flourish worldwide, examining the stark differences in salary sheds light on the varying levels of support, recognition, and investment these governing bodies allocate to their female athletes.
From contrasting financial structures to diverse cultural attitudes towards women’s sports, the different approaches to compensating female cricketers highlight both progress and persistent challenges in achieving gender parity within cricketing realms across different nations.
Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India
In the last annual contract announced by the BCCI for the 2022-23 season, women players were granted Rs 50 lakh (Grade A), Rs 30 lakh (Grade B), and Rs 10 lakh (Grade C).
Under the “pay equity policy” introduced by the BCCI in 2022, centrally contracted men and women players will now receive equal match fees. Women players will now earn Rs 15 lakh per Test match, Rs 6 lakh for ODIs, and Rs 3 lakh for T20Is respectively.
Grade A- Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma
Grade B- Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Grade C- Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia
Cricket Australia
The highest-earning women under Cricket Australia’s contract will surpass 43,854,230 INR ($ 800,000) annually, factoring in their WBBL contracts, match fees, and marketing payments. Additionally, the 2023 MOU has expanded opportunities, with each state and the ACT now able to offer two extra contract spots, increasing the total from 15 to 18.
Cricket Australia women’s contract players, 2024-25:
Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jessica Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
New Zealand Cricket
A 5-year deal in 2022 enabled the New Zealand women players, popularly known as White Ferns, to earn significantly higher match fees, with Rs 4.94 lakh (allocated for a Test match, Rs 1.92 lakh for an ODI, and Rs 1.20 lakh a T20I appearance.
New Zealand’s centrally contracted women cricketers received a substantial boost, with the maximum retainer now standing at Rs 78.76 lakh, surpassing the previous minimum of Rs 68.67 lakh.
New Zealand 2023-24 contract players:
Kate Anderson, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu