ICC: Equal prize money for men’s and women’s cricket events

The recent decision by the council means that the teams will now ‘receive equal prize money for finishing in similar positions at comparable events as well as the same amount for winning a match at those events.’

The new decision will be applicable from the next cycle of events of ICC where same prize money to men’s and women’s champions and runners-up teams will be given at the global events.

ICC has been increasing price money over the years. The amount that winners and runners-up of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 and 2023 received was five times the amount they did in 2018.

The prize money for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 rose to $3.5 million from the $ 2 million that was awarded for winning the cup in England back in 2017.

“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,” ICC Chairman Greg Barclay said in a statement by ICC.Along with the decision to end gender disparity in the game, the committee has approved changes to test cricket’s over-rate fines. This came with an aim to achieve a balance between the necessity of preserving over-rates and providing equitable compensation for players.Under the new rules, players will be fined 5 per cent of their match fee for each over that falls short, with a maximum penalty of 50 per cent. The new rule will come into effect from the start of the current World Test Championship cycle.

“The Men’s Cricket Committee felt strongly that over-rate penalties in the form of WTC points deductions should remain but recommended that players should not have 100 per cent of their match fee at risk. We believe this provides a balance between maintaining over-rates and ensuring we are not deterring players from playing Test cricket,” ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Sourav Ganguly said in an official statement released by ICC.