One of the most popular sports in the world is taking a big step toward gender equity.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that it will equalize pay for men’s and women’s teams.
“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,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted.
- The pay for members of both teams will be $18,229 per test match, $7,292 for one-day internationals, and $3,646 for a Twenty20 international.
- India’s women players currently earn $4,861 for tests and $1,215 for the other contests.
It’s unclear if there will be a change to the contract system. Under the current system, women at the top level earn $60,764 annually, $36,458 at the next level, and $12,153 below that.
In comparison, men make $850,694 annually at the highest level, and $607,639, $364,583, and $121,528 at the lower levels.
Cricket and The Mouse
Cricket has become an increasingly sought-after media property. In August, Disney Star acquired broadcast rights to global events put on by the International Cricket Council from 2024 through 2027.
Terms weren’t disclosed, but officials said the price represented a “significant uplift” from Star’s previous pact, which was for $2.1 billion over five years.
In June, Disney Star secured domestic TV rights to the Indian Premier League in a $3 billion deal.
