Some Bollywood Celebrities have hailed BCCI’s ‘historic decision’ on a “pay equity policy”. BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Thursday (Oct 27), announcing that the cricket organisation will pay equal match fees to its centrally-contracted female and male players to promote gender equality in cricket.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan praised the move. SRK took to Twitter and shared Jay Shah’s original announcement, writing, “What a good front foot shot. Sports being such an equaliser ( in more ways than one ) hoping it will pave the way for others to follow.”
Akshay Kumar also expressed his gratitude to the BCCI after reading the tweet, and he added how he was feeling elated after reading the news. He went on to say that it was an excellent step that would go a long way toward encouraging our female players to take up professional cricket.
Anushka Sharma and Taapsee Pannu had earlier praised the move as well. Both actors have played female cricketers on screen. Taapsee was recently seen in Shabash Mithu, the biopic of former Indian captain Mithali Raj. Anushka, on the other hand, will be seen next in Chakda Xpress, the biopic of Mithali’s teammate and fast bowler Jhulan Goswami.
Anushka reposted the tweet of BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s tweet and responded with three clapping emojis.
According to the new scheme, Indian women cricketers would receive the same match fees as their male counterparts: Rs 15 lakh for every Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I.
Indian women cricketers have been earning far less than their male counterparts in terms of match fees and central contracts. The first has been addressed by the BCCI now but the disparity in the second still stands. Centrally contracted female cricketers make anywhere between ₹10-50 lakh per annum. The men earn ₹1-7 crore in comparison.
