In a historic move, the BCCI announced it was introducing equal match fee for India’s male and female cricketers for international appearances. This announcement was made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
“The @BCCIWomen cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (Rs 15,00,000), ODI (Rs 600,000), T20I (Rs 300,000). Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the apex council for their support,” he added. India is now just the second country in world cricket after New Zealand to introduce pay parity for its male and female cricketers. As per BCCI’s current annual contracts structure (which remains the same), the highest paid women cricketers in India – skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav - earn Rs 50,00,000 by virtue of being in Grade A, while Grade B and Grade C contracts are worth Rs 30,00,000 and Rs 10,00,000.
In comparison, the Indian men's team captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are bracketed in an A+ category, which entitles them to £700,000 annually. Those in Grades A, B and C get £500,000,, 300,000 and 100,000. India’s male cricketers, of course, will still earn much more in terms of match fee as they play more international matches compared to their women counterparts. “It’s a revolutionary, momentous decision. This decision will make waves in world cricket. The BCCI can raise its collar now!” former India women’s captain Shantha Rangaswamy said.
