The Indian women’s cricket team is on the cusp of making history, needing just one more victory to claim the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. They are set to battle South Africa in the grand final at the DY Patil Stadium this Sunday.
Sources indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is readying an unprecedented cash reward for Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad should they secure the trophy. This initiative underscores the board’s dedication to ensuring equal pay across genders.
An anonymous BCCI source revealed to PTI, “The BCCI champions equal pay for men and women, and significant discussions are underway. If our women’s team wins the World Cup, their reward will be on par with what the men’s team received for a global triumph. However, it’s customary not to announce the prize money before the victory is secured.”
Reports suggest the BCCI is contemplating a prize package akin to the one awarded to the men’s team following their 2024 T20 World Cup win. Rohit Sharma’s victorious squad and their support staff famously received ₹125 crore after defeating South Africa in that final.
If this precedent holds, the women’s team stands to earn one of the most substantial financial rewards ever seen in Indian women’s sports.
This potential reward stems from the “equal pay” policy, a landmark initiative introduced by then-BCCI secretary and current ICC chairman Jay Shah. This policy guaranteed that India’s female cricketers would receive match fees equivalent to their male counterparts.
Contrast this with 2017, when India suffered a narrow nine-run defeat to England in the World Cup final at Lord’s. On that occasion, each player received a reward of ₹50 lakh, with head coach Tushar Arothe and the support staff also being acknowledged.
Eight years on, the stakes have escalated considerably, both on the field and in terms of recognition. A victory this Sunday would not only crown India as women’s World Cup champions for the first time but also signify a monumental leap towards achieving true parity in rewards for women’s cricket.
Beyond the financial incentives, Sunday’s final guarantees the crowning of a new Women’s World Cup champion, an exciting prospect for cricket fans worldwide.