New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced a ground-breaking agreement, which will see men and women players paid the same match fees.
NZC and the players’ association signed a five-year deal and the agreement will see women’s players at both international and domestic level receive the same match fees as men across all formats and competitions.
The agreement will start on August 1, and will also see professional women’s players receive equity in matters such as travel, accommodation, and the wider playing and training environment.
Under the agreement, the number of women’s domestic contracts will increase to 72 from 54 while the men will earn higher retainers due to the greater number of matches played, formats contested and time spent training and playing.
New Zealand’s men’s players, whose match fees at T20I, ODI, Ford Trophy, and Dream11 Super Smash level will be the same as the women, will earn higher retainers, based on the increased number of matches played, formats contested, and time spent training and playing. They will retain their ability to play in overseas leagues, including the IPL.
Contract match fees breakdown:
Tests: $10,250, ODIs: $4,000, T20Is: $2,500, Plunket Shield: $1,750, Ford Trophy/Hallyburton Johnstone Shield: $800, Super Smash: $575
Meanwhile, in India the wage gap between men and women cricketers are massive. A male cricketer with a Category A+ contract earns Rs 7 crore, while the women get only Rs 50 lakh.
Central contracts for the Indian women’s cricket team for 2021-22
Women’s Contracts 2021/22: Category A (Rs 50 lakh), Category B (Rs 30 lakh) and Category C (Rs 10 lakh).
Men’s Contracts 2021/22: Category A+ (Rs 7 crore), Category A (Rs 5 crore), Category B (Rs 3 crore) and Category C (Rs 1 crore).