England women’s match fees for internationals have been increased to equal the men’s with immediate effect.
The change was recommended in the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report, which found discrimination is “widespread” in English and Welsh cricket.
It said women were paid 25% of men’s fees for white-ball and 15% for Tests by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
England captain Heather Knight said the change was “fantastic to see”.
Match fees are paid for each appearance in addition to England players’ wider salaries from the ECB, which are not impacted by this change. The ICEC report, which highlighted racism, sexism, classism and elitism, found the average salary for England women is 20.6% of that for England men, while the England women’s captain’s allowance is 31% of that awarded to the men’s captain.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said the standardising of match fees was only the “first step” in a more equal game.
“That is what we want,” he told BBC Sport.
“That is what society wants. To do that we need to make sure the market also recognises the value of both men’s and women’s cricket.” (BBC)
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