Following the Indian women’s ODI World Cup campaign, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a significant upgrade to the match fees for domestic women cricketers. This pivotal decision, approved on December 22 by the BCCI Apex Council, recognizes the growing stature of women’s cricket in India and the team’s recent international success. The move is poised to dramatically improve the financial landscape for domestic players.
The revised structure mandates a daily earning of ₹50,000 for senior women players selected in the playing XI for domestic one-day and multi-day matches. Those in the squad but not playing will receive ₹25,000 per match day. In domestic T20 competitions, players will earn ₹25,000 per match, with reserves receiving ₹12,500. This is a substantial increase from the previous ₹20,000 and ₹10,000 rates, respectively, bringing domestic earnings closer to parity with men’s cricket.
BCCI officials anticipate that this pay hike will significantly boost the annual income of senior women cricketers, particularly those who participate across various formats. The positive impact is also being extended to younger players. Junior cricketers in the U-19 and U-23 age groups will now receive ₹25,000 per day for playing in one-day and multi-day games, and ₹12,500 for reserves. In T20s, junior players will get ₹12,500 per match, and ₹6,250 for non-playing squad members. This financial boost at the grassroots level is crucial for talent retention and development.
The BCCI has also substantially revised the remuneration for domestic umpires and match referees. They will now receive a uniform daily fee of ₹40,000 for league matches. For knockout matches, the daily fee will be between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000, depending on the tournament. This adjustment acknowledges the increasing professionalism and responsibilities within the domestic circuit.