Topic Background
Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the new payment structure for all of its players on 7th March,2018. For all the ardent cricket fans, who follow the game, this change in grade payment was expected, with discussions going around since July 2017. The introduction of the new A+ category and the corresponding stupendous hike in salary of subsequent categories, left the international as well as domestic players delighted, to say the least. However, just when BCCI was basking in the appreciation of all of its cricketers and members over this massive pay hike, a controversy sprung up.
Controversy
Dissension of the cricket fans has become evident in social media, soon after this announcement by BCCI, regarding the hug difference in pay scale between male & female cricketers. Before analyzing the difference in pay structure between male & female cricketers, a review of the pay structure is presented below
Indian Senior Men Retainership Fee Structure:
Grade A+: 7 crore INR per year.
Grade A: 5 crore INR Per year
Grade B: 3 crore INR per year
Grade C: 1 crore INR per year
Indian Senior Women Retainership Fee Structure:
Grade A: 50 lakhs INR Per year
Grade B: 30 lakhs INR per year
Grade C: 10 lakhs INR per year
Reason for Discrepancy
The reason for this discrepancy in payment goes back to 2001. A resolution had been passed by BCCI general body in 2001 and finally put to practice in 2004 by the contemporary BCCI president, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya. The resolution had stated that 26% of BCCI's gross revenue from broadcasting rights would be shared with the players, as salary. The distribution of this 26% revenue had been as follows: 50% of this 26% had been allocated for Senior Men's team, 38% had been reserved for domestic Ranji players and the rest 12% had been allocated to women & junior players. Just to emphasize on the last point, this indicated that only 12% of the net amount, BCCI had been spending as players' salary, was expended for Women players' fees.
Analysis of the Pay Distribution System
Considering the time frame, in which the resolution had been passed, commercially the deal was justified. Back in 2004, the women's cricket was in shambles in terms of broadcasting revenue. The major part (if not most) of BCCI's revenue came from International Men's cricket and it was only justified, again from only commercial viewpoint, that the female cricketers were paid so less. But, standing in 2018, the payment system looks nothing more than outdated. The primary reason for that is Women's cricket is gradually taking baby steps in terms of broadcasting revenue. The world is sitting up to take notice of Smriti Mandhana, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami Harmanpreet Kaur and many more. The viewership of women's cricket has been increasing slowly but steadily not only in India, but all through the world. The fact that BCCI is thinking about initiating a women's IPL in the coming years, is itself a testimony to the viewership increase in women's cricket. Thus, unlike in 2004, a significant portion of the broadcasting revenue of BCCI is contributed to by Women's International cricket. Of course, men's cricket contributes to the majority of the BCCI revenue even today, but it can be stated safely that, women's cricket has increased their contribution from what it was a decade back. Thus, an immediate review of this payment distribution system needs to be done by the BCCI, such that the senior level women's cricketer may receive their rightful claims.
Author's Note
BCCI has got to review this payment scheme as soon as possible. But until that is done, it is the responsibility of the Indian cricket fans to encourage women's cricket through increased viewership and packed to the hilt stadiums, just like they have been invigorating women's cricket through for the last few years.
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