Pay parity a historic move, will increase respect for Indian women globally – Mithali Raj
Women’s cricket in India has never been so good, and who would know this better than Mithali Raj, the most accomplished woman cricketer in the country. The recent announcement of pay parity by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could not have come at a better time.
“I think it’s a historic move,” declared the former India captain. “For a long time there have been discussions around this. And I think it has come at the right time. (Because) If we are targeting women’s cricket coming to a stage where men’s cricket is today, this decision will go a long way in taking us there. It is in that direction. It will have a huge impact.”
Last week, the BCCI, only the second board in International cricket (after New Zealand Cricket), said it will implement equality in pay for both men and women. Like Rohit Sharma’s men, the women cricketers will now get INR 15 lakhs for a Test, INR 6 lakhs for an ODI and INR 3 lakhs for a T20I. Previously the pay structure was INR 2.5 lakhs, INR 1 lakh and INR 1 lakh in that order.
“It was my commitment to our women cricketers and pay equity is an important step towards tackling discrimination. The female cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. This is a landmark decision as we enter a new era in India Cricket. I would like to thank my colleagues in the BCCI Apex Council,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said announcing the decision.
“It also, in a way, will attract young girls to take up the sport. It will ensure parents will now not shy away from looking at women’s cricket as a career option. In the past, it would be difficult because there was not much for the sport in terms of financial gains. There was always this concern whether the sport can sustain or if a girl can make a career out of the sport (women’s cricket) professionally and not just play for passion,” Mithali, who represented India in 12 Tests, 232 WODIs and 89 WT20Is, told Cricbuzz.
The BCCI announcement comes at a time when the board is planning to launch the Women’s IPL and inevitably it will have a double down impact on women’s cricket. “Now with the women’s IPL also forthcoming, more and more girls will be attracted to the sport. Women’s cricket has been bolstered by these decisions. The pay parity, women’s IPL and Under-19 World Cup are all steps in the right direction. I have always emphasised the importance of the Under 19 World Cup in many of my interviews. It is an important tournament,” Mithali explained.
Mithali, who retired from the game earlier in the year, is of the view that equal pay will increase the respect for India on the field and in front of the opposition. “Respect, no doubt. Despite the team doing well, we had to endure comments about our pay-grade, domestic T20 league, etc. What they didn’t realise was that we were looked after by the board really well and steps to get parity and the WIPL were just round the corner. Now you will see a lot of interest from players from other countries in the WIPL when it starts. Look what men’s IPL did for players from the country and around the world, naturally all eyes will be on the WIPL.”
In a way Mithali’s career has evolved alongside women’s cricket in India. The current state of women’s cricket is a far cry from the time when there would be no match fee or very little for the Indian team and Mithali has seen all that. Things have changed for the better since the BCCI took women’s cricket under its wing in 2005.
“My growth as a player and as a captain has been synonymous with the evolution of women’s cricket in India. I probably had this part to play. I am grateful and fortunate for it. I now foresee a lot many things happening for women’s cricket. If 1983 was the turning point for men’s cricket, I believe 2017 was that for women’s cricket in India. We broke the glass ceiling that year. The attitude towards women’s cricket has changed since. The viewership has gone up digitally too, in Hotstar digital platforms, etc.
“Earlier it was very irregular. There were so many people who watched the Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games. Who’d thought women’s cricket would be part of the Commonwealth Games? And now the talk is of the Olympics! I did my part as a player and will look forward to playing a role in whatever capacity to aid the growth of this sport.”
Mithali thinks women’s cricket got a transformation since Jay Shah & Co took charge. “The board looks after the players really well and things are really looking bright. In the last 2-3 years, the BCCI has definitely been proactive in giving the girls facilities and resources — like sending the teams early on a tour to get acclimatised, getting the international series organised and facilitating best rehab and training in the NCA under best physios and trainers.
“I think the Under 19 team will have a couple series before the World Cup. Domestic cricket has also been looking up. Earlier there would be 10 centuries in a season, now we see about 30 centuries in a season. Overall there’s been a more professional outlook to the sport from all the stakeholders.”
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