In a significant step toward strengthening women’s cricket in India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has approved a major revision in match fees for domestic women cricketers and match officials. The decision, cleared by the Board’s Apex Council, comes in the aftermath of India’s historic maiden ODI World Cup triumph and reflects a broader intent to make the domestic structure more equitable and sustainable. By more than doubling existing match fees, the board has signalled its commitment to rewarding performances and ensuring that women cricketers receive financial recognition closer to their male counterparts within the domestic ecosystem.
Significant Increase In Match Fees For Women Players
Under the revised framework, senior women cricketers competing in domestic tournaments will now earn substantially higher match fees across formats. In senior women’s one-day and multi-day competitions, players named in the Playing XI will be paid Rs 50,000 per day, while reserve players will receive Rs 25,000 per day. This represents a sharp rise from the earlier structure, where players earned around Rs 20,000 per match day, with reserves receiving half that amount.
In national T20 tournaments, the new pay scale sets the match fee at Rs 25,000 per day for players in the first XI, while reserves will earn Rs 12,500. According to board officials, a leading domestic women’s cricketer who participates regularly across formats in a full season can now expect to earn between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 14 lakh. This improved earning potential is expected to encourage more players to commit fully to domestic cricket and view it as a viable professional pathway.
Boost For Junior Cricketers And Match Officials
The revised pay structure also extends to junior women cricketers, ensuring benefits are felt across age groups. Players competing in the Under-23 and Under-19 categories will now be paid Rs 25,000 per day, while reserves in these tournaments will earn Rs 12,500 per day. This move is aimed at supporting young talent at a crucial developmental stage and reducing financial pressure as they progress through the ranks.
Match officials, including umpires and match referees, are another major beneficiary of the hike. For league matches in domestic tournaments, officials will earn Rs 40,000 per day, while knockout fixtures will carry a higher remuneration ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per day, depending on the match’s importance.
As a result, umpires officiating in Ranji Trophy league games can now earn around Rs 1.60 lakh per match, with knockout encounters paying between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. Overall, the board believes these changes will enhance financial security, motivation, and professionalism across India’s domestic cricket structure.
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