Mithali Raj Recalls Early Days: At That Time They Gave Us Rs 1000 for a Match

Nowadays, Indian women cricketers are earning in crores for major tournaments. Annual contracts are fetching them lakhs of rupees. Economically, cricketers are reaping heavy rewards. However, former India captain Mithali Raj recalled in an interview that ‘Once we did not receive match fees, annual contracts. We finished as runners-up in the 2005 World Cup. At that time, we were given only Rs 1000 for a match. That too until the end of the tournament.’ At that time the income from women’s cricket was low, so match fees were also nonexistent. When the women’s cricket team… When the BCCI introduced match fees, annual contracts started. Initially, they were only paid this much for a series. Then they increased the payment for individual matches. Now, women’s remuneration is equal to that of men, Mithali explained. From 1973 to 2006, the Women’s Cricket Association of India managed women’s cricket activities in India. In 2006, the BCCI took charge, bringing about significant differences in women cricketers’ earnings.