The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday that it is increasing match fees for the women’s team to bring them in line with the men’s side match fees with immediate effect.
This indicates that the equal match fees will be applied starting from the next white-ball home series of England’s women’s squad versus Sri Lanka. Notably, England now joins the ranks of New Zealand, India, and South Africa as the fourth cricketing nation to level the match fees for both its men’s and women’s International teams.
It’s crucial to mention that the women’s national cricket team accomplished a tremendous feat by drawing in an incredible attendance of over 110,000 attendees across the seven Ashes matches. According to a study, the multi-format Ashes series surpassed previous records for attendance. Notably, the One Day International (ODI) series completely sold out, and overall ticket sales have soared by more than 200 percent since 2019.
Furthermore, a report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) uncovered troubling indicators of systemic discrimination within English and Welsh cricket. This report triggered action, coinciding with a growing interest in women’s cricket. Responding proactively, the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has taken a huge stride by offering equal pay increments for female players.
Historically, women cricketers received just 20.6 percent of the profits of their male counterparts from the regulating body. This proposal by the ECB has been welcomed with enthusiasm, particularly by Heather Knight, the captain of England Women’s cricket team. Knight expressed her satisfaction at the decision, underlining its potential to contribute to the extension of the game.
“It’s really important that we continue to drive the women’s game forward and it’s fantastic to see equal match fees for England Women and England Men. The direction of travel for the women’s game has always been the most important thing, creating a sustainable product that people want to watch and play,” Heather Knight was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“And I’m sure this will make cricket an increasingly attractive sport to girls and young women as we continue to grow the game. I would also like to thank the PCA and England Women’s Player Partnership for their support in representing the players and the growth of the professional game,” she further added.
The ECB also stated that the extra funding comes in the aftermath of rises in local team salaries this year. Additionally, the earnings for female players competing in The Hundred have more than doubled compared to the previous year. With the expanded potential for earning in numerous International competitions, the sport currently delivers some of the most lucrative financial options for women in team sports. The ECB has also set targets for equalizing pay at the domestic level by 2029 and for internationals by 2030.
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