After BCCI, ICC and several others introduced pay parity for men and women: BCCI secretary Jay Shah

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah spoke about the efforts the cricket governing body in India took to achieve pay parity for men and women cricketers at the introduction of a ground-breaking program designed to inspire youngsters and advance gender equality.

Speaking at an event, Shah noted that several organisations, including the US Open Tennis, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC), announced equal pay for their players after BCCI established it for their cricketers. Notably, in October 2022, the BCCI announced that the centrally contracted players for the men's and women's cricket teams will get equal match fees.

"Cricket is not just sports for us, but it's an emotion that connects every Indian from the youngest to the oldest. I firmly believe that sports, especially cricket, have the incredible power to foster social harmony and unite our diverse nation. As you are knowing that we are living in an era of women empowerment, BCCI just did pay parity for men and women. I am pleased to inform you that after our decision, US Open Tennis, English Cricket Board, and ICC did pay parity for men and women," Jay Shah said, as reported by The News Mill. 

“BCCI has undertaken several initiatives to promote gender equality in the world of cricket. Our board has been at the forefront of creating a new wave of equality with initiatives like pay parity, which has significantly boosted women's cricket and provided strong support to our female cricketers,” he added.

ICC announces equal prize money for men's and women’s cricket

In July 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that both men’s and women’s teams will be rewarded equally at all ICC events. The decision, which was finalised during the ICC Annual Conference in Durban, South Africa, is an important step in the apex body’s effort to achieve prize money parity by 2030. Now, teams will be awarded the same amount of prize money for winning a match at major tournaments as well as for finishing in similar positions at comparable competitions.

"This is a significant moment in the history of our sport and I am delighted that men’s and women’s cricketers competing at ICC global events will now be rewarded equally,” said ICC Chairman Greg Barclay.