England introduce equal starting pay across professional domestic cricket from 2025

September 25, 2024, 3:02 AM IST

"England Cricket To Ensure Equal Pay By 2025"

On September 24, England's cricket board announced that starting salaries for men and women in professional domestic cricket will be equal starting next year.

The ECB announced that equal pay will be granted to players at both the 'Rookie' and 'Senior Pro' levels.

The women's game has introduced a rookie level for the first time, which will be the initial professional contract for new players. Meanwhile, the Senior Pro level is designated for experienced athletes who are part of the main teams.

The ECB's Professional Game Committee has given the green light to the initial salaries and budget for salaries. This committee includes members from First-Class County teams, the Professional Cricketers' Association, and the ECB.

The ECB has announced that equal pay will be implemented as part of the overhaul of women's professional cricket. This comes after their previous statement regarding the alignment of the men's and women's white ball competitions for the upcoming season.

"Standardizing starting salaries for both men and women in our professional domestic leagues is another significant advancement for women's cricket in England and Wales," said Beth Barrett-Wild, the Director of Women's Professional Game, in a statement.

"The adjustments we've implemented in the organization of women's domestic cricket over the past nine months aim to create a sustainable and appealing experience, both in terms of its marketability and the high level of play."

To achieve this, it’s crucial that our players receive fair pay, and that cricket is regarded not only as a realistic career path for women but also an appealing one.

In the updated national women's framework for next year, the eight FCCs that hold tier-one status will be required to have at least 15 contracted players on their rosters. They will also be limited by a salary cap of £800,000 annually.

The football clubs will be required to spend a minimum of 500,000 pounds on player salaries in 2025.

Next year, on July 27, The Oval will be the venue for the first-ever T20 Blast Women's Finals Day. Additionally, the inaugural One Day Cup Women's Final is set to take place at the Utilita Bowl on September 21.

This article was created directly from a news agency’s automated feed and has not been altered in any way.

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