After the New Zealand Cricket Board, the Indian team management, the BCCI, has announced an equal pay policy for Indian men and Indian women cricketers. Apart from the fact that this seems to be a great move in favor of feminism and is also a great move to promote the sport in our country if we look at the business aspect of it, is it actually profitable? The revenue and profit generated by the men’s team are 25 to 40 times more than that of women’s cricket, and we are pretty unclear about whether it is profitable or not:
BCCI Announces Equal Pay for Indian Team:
A few days earlier BCCI Secretary Jay Shah made this announcement via Twitter and also on the official BCCI website about equal pay for Indian Men’s team and Indian Women’s Team. This is what Jay Shah had to say about the policy, “It was my commitment to our women cricketers, and pay equity is an important step towards tackling discrimination. The female cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (INR 15 lakhs), ODI (INR 6 lakhs), T20I (INR 3 lakhs). This is a landmark decision as we enter a new era in India Cricket. I would like to thank my colleagues in the BCCI Apex Council.”
This decision is for promoting equality in the Indian team. But when an evident earning disparity exists between the Women’s Indian Team and the Men’s Indian team, how does the policy seem right?
Men’s IPL Generates 3269 Crores as Media Rights Per Year:
The Men’s IPL is the greatest business of the BCCI. The BCCI got the bucks rolling in from the very day that they announced this league. The Men’s IPL is also the most successful business venture of the BCCI. Back in the day when BCCI was making no profit, the salaries of the players were paid by the subsidies that the government provided. But with privatization, media rights, brand deals, and with marketing coming in, the BCCI became a profit-making body. In today’s date, the salaries of the players are paid from this profit.
The Women’s Indian Team is Not Making any Profits:
If we are to talk about the situation of Women’s cricket, it is like a blooming flower. Currently, keeping aside the finances, the game is improving. Brands are intending to associate with the game. The broadcasters are however still skeptical of picking a women’s tournament. At times it becomes difficult to find a sponsor for the Women’s game. It can be effectively sold under the banner of feminism today’s date but the crowds are still hesitant to pay for the tickets. In reality, if we walk out and ask an Indian to name at least 3 women cricketers, I bet more than 75% of people will fail to name even 2!
Suggestive Change In Place of Equal Pay:
One of my top suggestions instead of equal pay would be to invest the money in some schemes that encourage girls to pick up the bat and play for the nation. To make infrastructure that is female-friendly. To make the game safe and welcoming for women cricketers. The BCCI is taking steps for the same, it has established bodies for promoting the game. But announcing incentives at the highest level immediately is not the solution. The women’s game is growing at a good pace and we must let it flourish at that pace itself. Once the stature of the league and the sport matches that of the men’s, we can certainly bring up this policy from that instant onwards.
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