In a bid to promote women’s cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken an historic step. From 2025, eight First-Class counties with Tier 1 status will have a minimum of 15 contracted women’s cricketers. The counties will have to invest at least £500,000 (Rs 5.6 crore) on the salaries of women cricketers, with £800,000 (Rs 8.9 crore) as the salary cap for the year.
However, the move won’t just apply to the ‘Senior Pro’ level for players who have established themselves in first teams. It’ll also be implemented at the ‘Rookie’ level, which is being introduced into the women’s game for the first time and which will typically be a player’s first professional contract.
PCA Director of Player Rights and Women’s Cricket, Emma Reid, said: “This is a big step towards reaching parity and a journey that the PCA is fully committed to achieving, but there is still further work to do. With the women’s teams under the umbrella of the First-Class Counties, the PCA will continue to lobby for parity across all areas of the professional game.”
The starting salaries and salary budget details have been approved by the ECB’s Professional Game Committee (PGC), which features representatives from FCCs, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and the ECB.
Beth Barrett-Wild, Director of Women’s Professional Game, said: “Equalising starting salaries across our men’s and women’s professional domestic game is another positive step forward for women’s cricket in England and Wales.
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