The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced at a recent annual conference in Durban, South Africa, that both the men’s and women’s cricket teams competing in ICC global events will now be rewarded equally.
This is a significant moment in the history of Indian sports, as efforts have been made every year since 2017 to present equal prize money. ICC Chairman Greg Barclay mentioned that going forward, ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will carry the same prize money as the Men’s World Cup. It is also applicable for other tournaments, such as Twenty20 World Cups and Under 19s.
Earlier this year, the Australian women’s cricket team won the Twenty20 World Cup and prize money of $1 million, and the runners-up, South Africa, took home $500,000. On the other hand, England’s men’s team won prize money of $1.6 million during last year’s Twenty20 World Cup and the finalists, Pakistan, took home $800,000.
Major key decisions taken during the annual conference include:
• Equal prize money for both men’s and women’s cricket teams at global events
• As per the ICC’s new finance model, India is estimated to get 38.5 per cent ($230 million) of the $600 million annual earnings (2024 – 27 cycle)
• T20 leagues to have minimum seven local or associate member players (mandatory franchise-driven) to aid in the development of the game. Hosts of the leagues must pay a solidarity fee to the home board of a participating player
• Penalty for slow over-rates have been relaxed. Players will not be fined a 100 per cent; instead, they will be fined five per cent of the match fee for each over short and a maximum of 50 per cent.
Image source: Times of India