In a historic decision in the field of women’s cricket, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a significant increase in match fees for domestic women cricketers. This historic move, approved at the Apex Council meeting held on 22 December 2024, will see match fees more than doubled across all categories, marking an important step towards professionalising women’s cricket and pay parity.
India’s great debut Women’s ODI World Cup The move follows the win, which reflects BCCI’s commitment to foster a strong and beneficial ecosystem for women players. This is a clear indication that the Board is ready to back up its words with solid financial incentives, making cricket a more viable and attractive career option for women cricketers across the country.
Making dreams come true: New pay structure for India’s women cricketers
The revised fee structure is revolutionary, especially for senior players, whose daily match fees have been increased by 2.5 times. This dramatic increase aims to close the financial gap that has historically existed between men’s and women’s domestic cricket, providing unprecedented financial security and recognition.
| Category | Role | Old Fees (Per Day) | New Fees (Per Day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Women (One-Day/Multi-Day) | playing XI | ₹20,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Senior Women (One-Day/Multi-Day) | reserve | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Senior Women (T20) | playing XI | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Senior Women (T20) | reserve | ₹5,000 | ₹12,500 |
| Teenage Women (U-23 & U-19) | playing XI | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Teenage Women (U-23 & U-19) | reserve | ₹5,000 | ₹12,500 |
A pay rise that strengthens the entire women’s cricket ecosystem
- Annual Income: Under the former structure, a senior domestic player would earn around ₹2 lakh per season. With this increase, a top domestic player playing across all formats can now earn between ₹12 lakh to ₹14 lakh annually.
- Pay Equality: The new daily fee of ₹50,000 is comparable to the rate for many domestic male cricketers (especially those who have played 21 to 40 Ranji Trophy matches).
- Match Officials: This growth isn’t just for players; The fees of umpires and match referees will also be increased from ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 per day depending on the level of the match.
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