The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will invest £800,000 in salary payments for the Women’s Hundred, with the goal of attracting global talent and closing the league’s gender pay gap. This includes a major increase in the salary cap for all participating teams, which will rise from £250,000 to £350,000, as well as an increase in earnings for the top two highest earners in each squad, from £31,250 to £50,000.
Why It Matters
The investment is a critical step towards gender equality in cricket, addressing the need to bridge the large pay difference between male and female cricketers while also promoting inclusivity and equality in the sport.
By The Numbers
The ECB will invest £800,000 in salary wages for the Women’s Hundred.
The salary cap for all teams playing in the Women’s Hundred will increase from £250,000 to £350,000.
State of Play
The 2018 edition of the Women’s Hundred is set in July and August, offering a platform for players ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The highest-paid female cricketer in the Women’s Hundred earns much less than her counterpart in the Indian league, underlining the current gender pay discrepancies.
What’s next?
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has advocated for equal remuneration in both the Men’s and Women’s Hundreds by 2025, emphasising the significance of gender equality in professional cricket.
Bottom line
The ECB’s involvement in the Women’s Hundred is an important step towards attaining gender equality in cricket, setting a progressive example for cricketing bodies around the world.
