The ICEC report not only spotlighted gender discrimination but also unveiled issues pertaining to racism, classism, and elitism. The analysis revealed that the average salary of England women is a mere 20.6% of that granted to England men, with the captain's allowance for women a mere 31% of the men's captain's stipend.
ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould emphasized that this harmonization of match fees was just the initial stride towards fostering a more equitable cricketing landscape. "That is what we want...That is what society wants," Gould expressed.
To combat the prospect of losing English players to lucrative global franchise leagues, boosting men's match fees has been proposed as a strategy. While no immediate plan is in place, Gould conveyed that there is no commitment to automatically increasing women's match fees if the men's figure rises.
He underscored the commitment to nurturing talent in both the men's and women's game, asserting, "This is a significant investment into the women's game and we will continue that investment."
The historic decision to equalize match fees marks a significant stride towards fostering gender parity in cricket, heralding an era of greater inclusivity and fairness within the sport.
Source: BBC
">