The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced a hike in match fees for women’s domestic matches during an online meeting of its Apex Council. Under the new proposed structure, the daily match fee for senior women’s tournaments (50-over and multi-day) will be increased to Rs 50,000 for playing XI members and Rs 25,000 for reserves.
For senior women’s T20 matches, the revised rates will be Rs 25,000 for the playing XI and Rs 12,500 for reserves.
In a similar vein, domestic T20 match fees have also been increased, with the playing XI set to receive Rs 25,000 per match day in national T20 competitions, while reserves will get Rs 12,500.
The Apex Council also raised fees for junior cricketers. Reserves will receive Rs 12,500 in ODI matches, while players in the Under-23 and Under-19 divisions will get Rs 25,000. For T20 matches, the playing XI will receive Rs 12,500, while reserves will get Rs 6,250.
Match officials are also set to benefit significantly under the proposed revisions, with a substantial increase in match fees for umpires and match referees in domestic tournaments. For league-stage matches, officials are expected to earn Rs 40,000 per day.
The remuneration will increase further during the knockout stages, with match fees ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 per day, depending on the importance and stage of the match.
The fee hike comes after the Indian women’s cricket team triumphed in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, defeating South Africa in the final played in Navi Mumbai. It is a clear indicator of the rising status of women’s cricket in the country. With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) ushering in greater financial rewards for top players, the move ensures that benefits pass down to the domestic level, helping attract new talent and strengthen the grassroots structure.
(IANS)
