The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has brought good news to domestic women cricketers by declaring a remarkable rise in match fees. In a historic decision that cuts across gender lines, female players at the domestic level will receive match fees equal to those of their male co-players. The updated scale is almost 2.5 times higher than the old ones.
The decision was taken during the Apex Council meeting held virtually on Monday (December 22), marking a major step toward strengthening women’s cricket in India.
New Match Fee Structure for Senior Women Cricketers
Under the revised system:
- ODIs & multi-day tournaments:
- The Playing XI are now going to receive a daily wage of ₹50,000 which is a significant increase compared to the previous 20,000.
- The Non-playing squad members will receive 25,000 per match which is twice the the previous amount of 12,500.
- T20 matches:
- The authorized figure of ₹25,000 is being given to a player as his daily income for playing XI (earlier ₹10,000).
- Reserve participants would be getting ₹12,500.
Earlier, a senior domestic woman cricketer playing league matches across formats earned around ₹3 lakh in total. With the revised fees, earnings are set to rise substantially.
Big Boost for Junior Women Cricketers
BCCI has also approved a bumper hike for junior women cricketers:
- ODIs & multi-day tournaments:
- Playing XI members will earn ₹25,000 per day (earlier ₹10,000).
- Reserve players will receive ₹12,500.
- T20 matches:
- Playing XI members will get ₹12,500.
- Reserve players will earn ₹6,250.
Increased Fees for Officials Too
The pay hike is not limited to players alone. According to reports, umpires and match referees will also benefit:
- League matches: Around ₹40,000 per day
- Knockout matches: Between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000 per day
The BCCI’s daring action has been welcomed with huge approval already been an ushering in of a new era in women’s domestic cricket which is marked by the players and officials receiving more financial security and better recognition.
