In a landmark decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the prize money for the men’s and women’s T20 World Cups will be equal, starting from the upcoming women’s T20 World Cup in 2024. This historic move is a significant step towards gender equality in sports and reflects the ICC’s commitment to promoting women’s cricket on a global scale.
The decision was made during the ICC Annual Conference held in July 2023. The ICC Board decided to reach its prize money equity target seven years ahead of its original schedule of 2030. This makes cricket the only major team sport to offer equal prize money for its men’s and women’s World Cup events.
Prize Money Details for the Women’s T20 World Cup
For the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, the total prize pool has been increased by 225% to USD 7.96 million. The winners will receive USD 2.34 million, a 134% increase from the USD 1 million awarded to the Australian women’s team when they clinched the title in South Africa in 2023. The runners-up will receive USD 1.17 million, also a 134% increase compared to the previous USD 500,000.
The two losing semi-finalists will earn USD 675,000 each, up from USD 210,000 in 2023. Each win during the group stages will see teams take home USD 31,154. The six teams that do not reach the semi-finals will share a pool of USD 1.35 million, depending on their finishing positions.
This decision is expected to have a profound impact on women’s cricket. By offering equal prize money, the ICC aims to accelerate the growth of the women’s game and encourage more young girls to take up the sport. It also sends a strong message about the importance of gender equality in sports.
ICC to give equal prize money for the first time
– Overall prize pot for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 has increased to USD 7,958,080
– Winners will receive USD 2.34 million, while runners-up will get USD 1.17million – equal as that for the men's event pic.twitter.com/OlhAtYHlpv
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) September 17, 2024
The announcement has been met with widespread approval from players, coaches, and cricket boards around the world. Former Australian cricketer and current ICC Women’s Committee Chair, Lisa Sthalekar, praised the decision, stating, “This is a monumental step forward for women’s cricket. Equal prize money is not just about the money; it’s about respect and recognition for the hard work and dedication of female cricketers”
Indian women’s cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, also expressed her excitement, saying, “This is a great initiative by the ICC. It will inspire many young girls to pursue cricket as a career and help in the overall development of the sport,”
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