New Delhi: Just minutes before the Indian men’s team took the field for their T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Honorary Secretary Jay Shah announced that international match fees for India’s men and women cricketers would be equal.
“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,” Shah tweeted.
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 🇮🇳
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) October 27, 2022
Shah’s announcement of the pay equity policy was met with an outpouring of support from former cricketers, journalists and fans alike.
Former India Women’s team captain and the all-time highest run scorer in women’s ODIs, Mithali Raj, was among the first to congratulate Shah and the BCCI on this move. Terming it a “historic decision”, Raj declared that a “new era” was being ushered for women’s cricket due to the policy as well as the announcement of a women’s IPL.
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
Commentators and former cricketers Anjum Chopra and Mel Jones also re-tweeted Jay Shah’s announcement, with Chopra referring to the policy as “massive news”.
Massive news this! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 well done @BCCI @JayShah https://t.co/gBa2gfiioA
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) October 27, 2022
Huge news! Equal match fees for @BCCI mens and Women’s teams. 👏🏽 https://t.co/uJwB9hkQb6
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) October 27, 2022
Men’s domestic cricketer and a member of India’s champion 2008 U-19 World Cup squad, Shreevats Goswami, welcomed the move, but called for further reforms in Indian cricket, specifically “a contract system for domestic cricketers”.
This is brilliant .A huge huge step in the right direction and now time for contract system for domestic cricketers ? https://t.co/2WY3iw9yuN
— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) October 27, 2022
The news garnered enthusiasm outside the cricketing fraternity as well, with Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh saying the decision would “go a long way”.
Great decision!! 👏🏽👏🏽 Many congratulations!!! This will go a long way. https://t.co/c6EcBk0Y3V
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) October 27, 2022
National Commission for Women chair Rekha Sharma said the voice of women cricketers were being heard at last.
I welcome this decision of @BCCI to pay equal fee to both men and women. It was long pending and at last the voice of women cricketers is been heard. https://t.co/8h2ib6Joe7
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) October 27, 2022
Also read: In a historic move BCCI announces equal pay for both men and women cricketers