Each year BCCI central contracts are announced for both the Indian Women and Indian Men Cricketers. While there are four categories, namely, Grade A+, Grade A, Grade B and Grade C, for male Indian cricketers, there are only three categories, namely, Grade A, Grade B and Grade C, for female players of India’s national team.
A comparative look at the salaries of annually contracted men and women cricketers:
There is a vast pay gap between the remuneration of men and women players. Recently the BCCI announced the list of contracted players for the Indian men’s team in which Grade A+ players are at the top of the pile and earn Rupees seven crore annually. On the other hand, the BCCI central contract for the Grade A+ category is non-existent in Women’s central contracts.
Grade A contracted female team players earn only Rupees 50 lakh, ten times lesser than the Grade A hired men’s player. Similarly, the Grade B Indian women’s players make only 30 lakhs annually, 2.70 crores less than their male counterparts. Lastly, the female players under the Grade C contract make 90 lakh less than the male players.
What causes the massive pay gap between male and female cricketers:
First and foremost, the revenue generated from men’s and women’s international matches is no way near equal. BCCI earns a lot more per cricket match from broadcasters for men’s cricket matches due to their high viewership. On the other hand, only a handful of people watch women’s cricket in India and hence the revenue generated is much lower.
Indian Premier League is also one of the reasons why women’s cricket revenue could never match up to the men’s cricket revenue. Each year IPL contributes a massive amount to the BCCI’s treasury while, on the other hand, there is no T20 league in India for women cricketers to participate and generate revenue.
What should we do to reduce the enormous pay gap:
Encouraging the younger generation to take an interest in the women’s cricket matches might be the best first step in reducing the pay inequalities. Secondly, BCCI can organise a league similar to IPL or The Hundred to promote women’s cricket in India. Lastly, increasing match fees for women in international cricket may make an impact in shortening the gap between men’s and women’s cricketers’ remuneration.