INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
India (BCCI) said on Thursday in a momentous move that was hailed by players even as they await more measures to level the playing field
The step is significant, say experts, since the world's richest cricket body will finally walk the talk on pay parity
Also, the BCCI will become the second cricket body after New Zealand Cricket, which announced in July that it would award both its men and
women players equal match pay
Jay Shah, secretary, BCCI, tweeted on Thursday that women cricketers, like their male counterparts, would earn Rs 15 lakh for a test match,
Rs 6 lakh for a one-day international (ODI), and Rs 3 lakh for a T-20 international match
These amounts are higher than the Rs 1 lakh that India women players currently earn for an ODI or T20I appearance, and Rs 4 lakh for a test
Shantha Rangaswamy, former India cricket captain and BCCI Apex Council member, said that the outflow for the cricket body would be Rs 10
crore per annum, thanks to the pay parity move
This will certainly lift the morale of women who represent the national squad
But it would have helped if domestic women cricketers were also considered for pay parity with their male counterparts
According to the BCCI remuneration list, a grade A+ (the highest bracket) male cricketer is paid Rs 7 crore in annual salary, while those in
grades A, B and C pocket Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore and Rs 1 crore, respectively
Women cricketers have three slabs, and the highest earners, in Grade A, are paid Rs 50 lakh
Grade B and C cricketers earn Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively
The discrepancy in salary is stark lower down the list
A senior domestic woman cricketer, for instance, is entitled to a match fee of Rs 20,000, which is equal to the match fee of an Under 19
This figure was Rs 12,500 per match earlier, said Rangaswamy
Ayaz Memon, a sports expert, says that while the BCCI has taken a key step towards addressing pay parity, the larger issue of organising
So, their earnings are lower as a result
players with a maximum of six from overseas
Tenders for the broadcaster of the tournament and franchise owners will be floated later this year, BCCI officials said
BCCI for its effort to boost pay parity
figured in the finals of key tournaments and won most of them
In August, they clinched a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games
lakh ODI: Rs 6 lakh T20: Rs 3 lakhWhat women cricketers earn so far Test match: Rs 4 lakh ODI: Rs 1 lakh T20: Rs 1 lakhDisparities in annual
salary Men: Grade A+ (Rs 7 cr); A (Rs 5 cr); B (Rs 3 cr); C (Rs 1 cr) Women: Grade A (Rs 50 lakh); B (Rs 30 lakh); C (Rs 10 lakh)
