India women's team players to receive equal match fee as male cricketers, confirms Jay Shah

BCCI on Thursday made a landmark announcement for women's cricket in India by bridging the pay gap between male and female cricketers.

The Board secretary Jay Shah confirmed that centrally-contracted women's team players will now receive equal match fee as their male counterparts.

"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.

Previously, women's team players were paid Rs 4 lakh for a Test and Rs 1 lakh for T20I and ODI. They will now earn Rs 15 lakh for a Test, 6 lakh for ODI and 3 lakh for T20I.

According to ESPNCricinfo, BCCI is working with the star women's team players for changes in their annual retainer contracts. The players in the Grade A bracket are set to earn Rs 50 lakh per annum, Grade B earn Rs 30 lakh and Grade C take Rs 10 lakh.

The announcement closely follows BCCI's approving the six-team Women's IPL for next year. The Board's newly-elected president Roger Binny felt that the increased pay will pave a new path in women's cricket in India.

"In our Apex Council meeting today, we have made a marquee decision on pay equity for our women cricketers. Our women players will be paid the same match fees as men in international cricket. This decision sets the platform to grow and develop cricket. I believe this is a significant step forward for women’s cricket and the game overall," Binny said in a statement.

"This is a revolutionary step for the women’s game and I believe this move will serve as a motivation for the present and future stars of women’s cricket. A lot was spoken about the way forward for the women’s game and I believe pay equity is a step towards that direction. It is an important move, a hallmark one at that and I am sure this will hold the game in good stead going forward," BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said.