Tanya Kini
Cricket Australia released a striking statement last week about the proposed Memorandum of Understanding for 2017-22. James Sutherland, the board CEO, seemed pleased about the offers his board made to its players – and why not? The stand-out feature of the proposal was a remarkable 125% increase in the retainers for Australia’s female cricketers under central contracts. The pay increase for domestic players was just as significant. Besides, the women would also get a share of the surplus from the profits CA made.
These features are still proposals and need to be accepted by the Australian Cricketers’ Association. These numbers might yet change, and one point of contention might be the pregnancy clauses, details of which were leaked to the media in December 2016. Yet, the announcement marks a statement of intent and the numbers proposed are truly significant for the women’s game.
In light of the Australian proposal – and in a World Cup year at that – Wisden India looks at the top seven women’s teams and compares their earnings based on figures publicised by the boards.
Australia: The epitome of professionalism
The Southern Stars, the defending World Cup champions, are a force to be reckoned with in the women’s game, setting a high standard in performance and training. With the introduction of the WBBL, Australia were also trailblazers in creating women’s T20 leagues. The heart of this professionalism has been CA’s pay contract system for their female cricketers.
| Type of contract | Amount* | Amount (approx. in INR) | Players |
| International players | AUS$ 79,000 (maximum retainer fee + WBBL retainer fee) | Rs 39.84 lakh | Kristen Beams Alex Blackwell Nicole Bolton Lauren Cheatle Sarah Coyte Rene Farrell Holly Ferling Grace Harris Alyssa Healy Jess Jonassen Meg Lanning Beth Mooney Erin Osborne Ellyse Perry Megan Schutt Elyse Villani |
| AUS$ 65,000 (maximum retainer fee) | Rs 32.65 lakh | ||
| AUS$ 40,000 (minimum retainer fee) | Rs 20.09 lakh | ||
| WBBL players | AUS$ 15,000 (maximum WBBL retainer fee) | Rs 7.53 lakh | |
| AUS$ 7000 (minimum WBBL retainer fee) | Rs 3.51 lakh | ||
| Domestic players | AUS$ 33,000 (maximum retainer fee + WNCL retainer fee + minimum WBBL retainer fee) | Rs 16.57 lakh (approx.) | |
| AUS$ 11,000 (WNCL retainer fee) | Rs 5.52 lakh (approx.) |
*Amounts as decided under current MoU (2012-17)
Apart from the regular contracts, players get a minimum match fee of AUS$ 1000 for Tests and AUS$ 700 for ODIs and T20Is. This means that in a full season of an Ashes series (1 Test, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is), a full WBBL campaign and a World Cup campaign (excluding knock-out games), someone like Meg Lanning, the captain, could earn close to AUS$ 89,000 (Rs 44.69 lakh) in a single season.
This excludes match bonuses, performance bonuses, prize money, endorsement money, sponsorships, insurance and other concessions. It all makes Australia Women the highest paid, even among sportswomen in their country.
England: A two-year deal
The England and Wales Cricket Board introduced central contracts for their female cricketers in 2014. In December 2016, the central contracts were extended to two years along with the introduction of ‘rookie contracts’ for emerging players.
| Type of contract* | Amount | Amount (approx. in INR) | Players |
| Full central (2 years) | £50,000 (annual retainer fee)** | Rs 40.86 lakh | Tammy Beaumont Katherine Brunt Kate Cross Georgia Elwiss Natasha Farrant Jenny Gunn Alex Hartley Danielle Hazell Amy Jones Heather Knight Laura Marsh Natalie Sciver Anya Shrubsole Sarah Taylor Fran Wilson Lauren Winfield Danielle Wyatt |
| Rookie central (new introduction) | N/A | N/A | Beth Langston |
*With effect from February 2017
** Estimated amount based on reports and interviews
But before 2014, England had introduced their female players to the idea of professionalism by giving them the roles of ambassadors in the then fledgling ‘Chance to Shine’ programmes, which paved the way for central contracts.
The Women’s Cricket Super League, introduced in 2016, offers an added source of income to players (the retainer amounts aren’t public). Besides, some internationals participate in the WBBL and earn retainer fees there.
Unlike in Australia, domestic players aren’t afforded the luxury of a contract. Mark Robinson, the England women’s coach, echoed this lament when the new contracts were announced. “The women’s game is growing at a real pace, but still doesn’t have the financial security that the men’s county game offers a player from the England men’s team in the event that they lose their ECB central contract.
“That said, we do still have space and freedom to grow – we have to be able to reward players at the right time – so we will continue to assess the central contracts list on an annual basis. The new level of ‘rookie’ contract also gives us greater flexibility in this respect, allowing us to financially support players who sit just above the England Women’s Senior Academy squad, but who have not quite hit the level required to win a full central contract.”
New Zealand: A three-year reward
- Photo courtesy: White Ferns Facebook page.
One of two women’s teams to offer central contracts for a period of three years, the White Ferns were awarded central contracts in 2014.
| Type of contract* | Amount | Amount (approx. in INR) | Players |
| Central (three years) | Between NZ$ 20,000 to NZ$ 34,000 (annual retainer) | Between Rs 9.21 lakh to Rs 15.67 lakh | Suzie Bates Erin Bermingham Sam Curtis Sophie Devine Holly Huddleston Leigh Kasperek Katey Martin Thamsyn Newton Morna Nielsen Katie Perkins Liz Perry Rachel Priest Hannah Rowe Amy Satterthwaite Lea Tahuhu |
*With effect from August 2016
Besides that, match fees are NZ$ 400 for ODIs and NZ$ 300 for T20Is. Top players such as Suzie Bates and Amy Satterthwaite supplement their income with WBBL and WCSL fees.
Despite the contracts, not all White Ferns pursue cricket full-time, balancing the sport with studies and other jobs.
Pakistan: A pioneer in contracts
| Type of contract* | Amount | Amount (approx. in INR) | Players |
| Category A | PRs 100,000 per month | Rs 62,000 | Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Wadood, Asmavia Iqbal Khokhar |
| Category B | PRs 80,000 per month | Rs 49,999 | Nida Rashid, Anam Amin, Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi |
| Category C | PRs 60,000 per month | Rs 37,4000 | Sadia Yousaf, Sidra Nawaz, Rabiya Shah, Sidra Amin, Nahida Khan, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Marina Iqbal, Sania Iqbal |
| Category D | PRs 40,000 per month | Rs 24,990 | Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwar, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar, Kainat Imtiaz |
*With effect from January 1, 2016
Pakistan were among the earliest to announce central contracts for their players, with Bushra Aitzaz, the head of the women’s wing in the PCB then, championing the cause. They took the step forward in professionalising the women’s game after the gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games and a cash incentive for the players when they defended their gold in the 2014 edition. Having their contracts renewed yearly, the PCB also have the most number of contracted female cricketers: 22.
As the first Asian team to announce contracts for their players, Pakistan have bragging rights, even though their results haven’t consistently reflected it since then. Initially, 19 players were awarded central contracts in 2011; it sent out a strong message to the cricketing world and struck a blow for the rights of women in the region.
The players also get regular income from the jobs they hold with companies that participate in domestic cricket.
Unfortunately, they haven’t had an option to add to their contract payments through participation in domestic T20 leagues like the WBBL or WCSL.
India: Much delayed
- Photo courtesy: BCCI Women via Twitter.
| Type of contract* | Amount | Players |
| Grade A (1 year) | Rs 15 lakh (annual retainer fee) | Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Harmanpreet Kaur, MD Thirushkamini |
| Grade B (1 year) | Rs 10 lakh (annual retainer) | Smriti Mandhana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bist, Veda Krishnamurthy, Niranjana Nagarajan, Poonam Raut |
*For 2015-16 season; no announcement has been made about the 2016-17 season
The curious case of the BCCI and India Women – the last team in the women’s game to introduce central contracts for their players and then forget about it? More like distracted by issues that were caused from spot-fixing, conflict of interest and the reports submitted by the Lodha Committee that effectively tied up the BCCI’s money for a while.
This could be one reason why the women’s contracts haven’t been renewed after their landmark announcement in May 2015.
The new men’s contracts were announced this month, with pay doubled across categories. When the new contracts for women are announced – and the expectation is that they will be – will efforts be made to bridge the gender wage gap?
Despite the contracts, several Indian players continue to hold jobs with Railways, the biggest employer of female cricketers in India. As a government job, it affords them stability, and time to tour and practise. As a result, Railways are a domestic powerhouse.
BCCI have made strides in correcting the poor deal the women get. In August 2016, the daily allowance for the women was brought on a par with that of the men. Recently, the CoA also decided that just as the men’s teams and their officials and staff travel by business class, the women’s team too would enjoy that luxury.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, the first Indian cricketers to feature in a foreign league when they played in the second edition of the WBBL, have been able to supplement their finances with that income.
South Africa: The right steps forward
South Africa are the second team to offer central contracts to their female players for a period of three years. The first set of contracts, for six players, was announced in late 2013.
While the specific retainer amounts are not in the public domain, the contract renewals have been on the same terms as the men and prompt as well. CSA are the only board to have announced the list for the 2017-18 season (among those boards that offer yearly contract renewals).
Contracted players (with effect from April 1, 2017): Dané van Niekerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Trisha Chetty, Chloe Tryon, Lizelle Lee, Matshipi Marcia Letsoalo, Laura Wolvaardt, Masabata Klaas, Andrie Steyn, Moseline Daniels.
West Indies: Another early mover
West Indies were among the earliest to offer their women retainer contracts, with six players in two grades benefitting from October 2010. By 2014, this had increased to 11 players who had their contracts renewed on a yearly basis, and 15 in 2016.
| Type of contract* | Amount | Amount (approx. in INR) | Players |
| Central (one year) | US$ 12,000 to US$ 30,000 | Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 19.63 lakh | Merissa Aguerilla Shermaine Campbelle Shamilia Connell Britney Cooper Shanel Daley Deandra Dottin Afy Fletcher Kycia Knight Kyshona Knight Hayley Mathews Anisa Mohammed Shaquana Quintyne Shakera Selman Tremayne Smartt Stafanie Taylor |
*With effect from October 1, 2016
The men, however, earn a lot more, and the disparity is something the likes of Deandra Dottin have been critical about. In October 2016, the WICB released a statement increasing the pool to 15. Top players like Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin will be earning close to US$ 40,000 (Rs 26.18 lakh approx.) with retainer fees from participating in the WBBL and the WCSL supplementing their income. The players also get sponsorship payments, match fees and allowances.
Sri Lanka too offer contracts to their female cricketers, but have not made the details public.
2017 is the year in which the UN is aiming to focus on women at work. The gender pay gap is an issue world over, and turning the women’s game professional through contracts is just the beginning in closing that gap. If Cricket Australia’s proposal goes through, it would be another significant step.
This piece first appeared on Wisden India. You can read it here.