In a historic move, the BCCI on Thursday implemented equal match fees for both Indian men and women cricketers, sparking massive reaction from celebrities, sport stars and fans across the country.
In a landmark decision, the BCCI on Thursday announced equal match fees for its centrally-contracted female and male players in a bid to tackle gender discrimination. BCCI secretary Jay Shah took to Twitter to announce the historic development.
"I'm pleased to announce @BCCI's first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing pay equity policy for our contracted @BCCIWomen cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Cricket," Shah tweeted.
As per the newly introduced system, the Indian women's cricketers will now receive Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I, the same as their male counterparts.
The 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 ๐ฎ๐ณ
โ Jay Shah (@JayShah)"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 added.
Earlier this year, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had struck a deal with the country's players' association, which enabled the women cricketers to earn as much as the mail players, while Cricket Australia (CA) is also working to do away with gender disparity.
Indian women's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur reacted to the landmark move and stated, "Truly a red letter day for Womenโs Cricket in India with pay parity announced for women and men. Thank youย @BCCIย andย @JayShah"
Truly a red letter day for Womenโs Cricket in India with pay parity announced for women and men. Thank you and
โ Harmanpreet Kaur (@ImHarmanpreet)Former Indian women's captain Anjum Chopra tweeted, "Massive news this! well doneย @BCCIย @JayShah."
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Meanwhile, legendary Indian women batter Mithali Raj too expressed joy over the landmark step. "This is a historic decision for womenโs 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 youย @JayShahย Sir & theย @BCCI for making this happen. Really happy today." she noted on the micro-blogging site.
This is a historic decision for womenโs 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 Sir & the for making this happen. Really happy today. https://t.co/xOwWAwsxfz
โ Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03)Applauding the landmark move, cricketer Amit Mishra called for sporting bodies world over to follow this step. "A welcome decision indeed. Proud that our country did it first. This should be followed by every sport organisation across the globe. Great workย @bcciย @jayshah ji," wrote the veteran right-arm leg-break bowler.
Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh too lauded the BCCI for this decision. "Great decision!! Many congratulations!!! This will go a long way," he wrote on Twitter.
Nikhil Arora, Managing Director, GoDaddy India was among those who applauded the Board for this step. "Parity in participation can only be achieved when thereโs parity in mindsets. Considering the influence the game has on the country, I hope this move weeds out #biases faster. Equal effort deserves #equalpay. Excellent work, @JayShah! #GenderEquality #BCCIWomen," he noted.
The news has sparked massive excitement among cricket fans in the country. Here's a look at how cricket lovers reacted to the landmark move on Twitter:
Happy to know that has taken the decision of pay equity policy for sportspersons in cricket. BCCI has set a standard for other sports bodies. It will encourage greater participation of women in the game. A historic milestone indeed !
โ Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)This is just fantastic ๐๐ผ https://t.co/OYAgSBtWxH
โ Sanjana Ganesan (@SanjanaGanesan)Massive news this! ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป well done https://t.co/gBa2gfiioA
โ Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum)Great step!!!
Thanks and for this decision. https://t.co/eOgL497evo
Great decision!! ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ Many congratulations!!! This will go a long way. https://t.co/c6EcBk0Y3V
โ Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd)Wow wow wow!
This is the biggest news possible!
Congratulations to and and huge kudos to in doing this.
Massive and game-changing! https://t.co/pUZ2Nv3N00
Lovely move! ๐
A big move towards addressing the disparity. The women have been showing some great performances and taking the towards greater heights.
This move sends great message across industries. https://t.co/lD25DKIrJm
This is brilliant .A huge huge step in the right direction and now time for contract system for domestic cricketers ? https://t.co/2WY3iw9yuN
โ Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1)I welcome this decision of 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
โ Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha)Nice to be able to point to something good that the BCCI has done.
(To really address disparity, be nice if the BCCI can bring the same thinking to contracts, or at least considerably reduce the disparity). https://t.co/CVdOsW9Vog
Apt and timely for women's cricket in India. Congratulations and team for doing what needs to be done. May this be the first of many steps towards empowering women's cricket further in ๐ฎ๐ณ https://t.co/cqx0DRNktN
โ Harini PN Rana ๐ฎ๐ณ (@HariniRana)Good work deya https://t.co/vLaACSaia9 pic.twitter.com/55ARuVBcfy
โ Friedrich๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธโ ๐ง (@_JustHereinit)Parity in participation can only be achieved when thereโs parity in mindsets. Considering the influence the game has on the country, I hope this move weeds out faster. Equal effort deserves . Excellent work, ! https://t.co/Tx6xn3W0Lr
โ Nikhil Arora (@Nikhil_Arora17)A welcome decision indeed. Proud that our country did it first. This should be followed by every sport organisation across the globe. Great work ji. https://t.co/SYhXNoGRFt
โ Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit)