South Africa have followed New Zealand and India in giving equal match fees, and professional league for women cricketers in the country. Cricket has gone where no other sport has gone before for South Africa. With equal match fees in international matches and with domestic leagues set to be professional, Cricket South Africa (CSA) will also hand out same contract for men and women.
The changes will come to effect from South Africa ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in Karachi, set to commence on September 1. The upcoming league is on the agenda for 2023/24 season. Overall, the measures will add the equivalent of USD 2.13 million to CSA’s bills over the next three years. Among that, USD 799,000 will be paid by the government.
“What we are celebrating today is not about monetary value but about leadership and political will,” Kodwa said at the league’s launch in Tshwane, formerly Pretoria, on Tuesday as reported by Cricbuzz.
“When I came [into the ministry] in March I heard about other federations, as far back as 2018, to which the department made commitments of millions for professionalizing women’s sport. To date that has not been realized.
“The time for long statements and endless talk and promises must end. In the first week of our appointment, we met with the top five federations in the country, and we stressed this point. [CSA] seem to be the only federation who understood what we said.
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The change by CSA is lauded by one and all, as finally, women cricketers are getting their dues for their terrific performances. The Sune Luus-led reached the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2023, they also managed to reach the semi-final of the ODI World Cup in 2022.
Even without their now-retired talismanic all-rounder Dane van Niekerk, South Africa are a formidable force to reckon with. Luss has stepped in nicely as a leader and managed to remain calm in all circumstances. Also, a few senior players like Kapp, Wolvaardt, and Ayabonga Khaka have shown consistency.
