New Delhi: England women cricketers are reportedly said to receive 30% hike in pay when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will roll out the next set of contracts in October. Some of the players are likely to be handed a multi-year deals in a first of its act.
The move comes after the ECB offered multi-year deals to some cricketers from the men’s squad last year. This will be a major booster for the England women’s team, which has left for the United Arab Emirates in an attempt to lift the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
According to a report by The Guardian, the new contracts are understood to be worth between £90,000 and £130,000 for a year. The wages will depend upon the experience and seniority of players with some of them to receive a contract of two years.
All the 15 members of the T20 World Cup-bound squad will bag new deals. The recent pay hike is a result of a new funding deal agreed between the ECB and Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA). The PCA is a representative of the international players. The move is also powered by ECB’s main broadcast contract with Sky Sports network. The British broadcaster has agreed to a fresh four-year deal starting from 2025.
ICEC report’s impact in bridging pay gap in England cricket
The England women players will continue to receive the same match fees as to their men counterparts under the ECB policy which was introduced last year.
The Guardian report further credited the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s (ICEC) discrimination report, which was published last year, highlighting the fact that women cricketers receive ’embarrassingly small amount compared to men (cricketers)’.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on September 17 increased the total prize for the ninth edition of the World T20 with the winner to collect $2.34 million, marking a massive 134% increase from the $1 million awarded to the champions (Australia) in the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
All the 15 members of the T20 World Cup-bound squad will bag new deals. The recent pay hike is a result of a new funding deal agreed between the ECB and Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA). Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
