India women cricketers to get equal pay as men, announces BCCI

According to a BCCI statement on Thursday, the women's cricketers will be paid Rs. 15 lakh, Rs. 6 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh, respectively, for Test, ODI and T20Is, respectively, they feature in.

The revision in fees for India women cricketers is at least a three-fold hike, with the match-fees for Test matches having been hiked six-times than the existing Rs. 2.5 lakh per Test. | Photo Credit: PTI

In an attempt to bridge pay-parity between India's male and female international cricketers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) reconstituted apex council has matched match-fees of international women's cricketers with the same for their male counterparts.

As a result, according to a BCCI statement on Thursday, the women's cricketers will be paid Rs. 15 lakh, Rs. 6 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh, respectively, for Test, ODI and T20Is, respectively, they feature in.

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

The revision is at least a three-fold hike, with the match-fees for Test matches having been hiked six-times than the existing Rs. 2.5 lakh per Test.

While newly-elected BCCI president Roger Binny referred to the development as "a marquee decision on pay equity", secretary Jay Shah stated the move as "an important step towards tackling discrimination". Treasurer Ashish Shelar felt the decision will be a "game-changer" for women's cricket in India.

Match fees

Format	Women		Men
	Existing	Revised
Test	Rs. 2.5 lakh	Rs. 15 lakh	Rs. 15 lakh
One-day International	Rs. 1 lakh	Rs. 6 lakh	Rs. 6 lakh
T20 International	Rs. 1 lakh	Rs. 3 lakh	Rs. 3 lakh

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. https://t.co/xOwWAwsxfz

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 27, 2022

It remains to be seen if the BCCI revises the annual retainer for women's cricketers as well. At present, the retainer for top women's cricketers in India is seven per cent of the same for top men's cricketers. Besides, the domestic match-fees structure for women's cricketers is also in need for a relook to create a feeder system.

Annual retainer

	Women	Men
Grade A+	NA	Rs. 7 crore
Grade A	Rs. 50 lakh	Rs. 5 crore
Grade B	Rs. 30 lakh	Rs. 3 crore
Grade C	Rs. 10 lakh	Rs. 1 crore

Indian men to play 141 matches between 2023-27; Women to play 75 matches between 2022-25

According to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) released by the International Cricket Council, India’s men’s team is set to play 38 Tests, 42 ODIs and 61 T20Is in the four-year cycle from May 2023 to April 2027. This excludes the matches in the ICC’s multi-nation tournaments.

The first-ever women’s FTP released by ICC from May 2022 to April 2025, India’s women’s will feature in two Tests, 27 ODIs and 36 T20Is, besides the ICC tournaments.

With the same number of games as base, an Indian male cricketer who plays all the bilateral series in the four-year period will earn Rs. 10.05 crore through match-fees.

An India female cricketer who plays each bilateral game till April 2025 will take home Rs. 3 crore in the three-year period.