South Africa has embraced gender equality by introducing equal pay for male and female cricketers, making it the latest nation to achieve pay parity across genders. This decision aligns South Africa with countries like New Zealand and India, which have previously implemented equal pay policies. This landmark announcement follows the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) pivotal step earlier this year to grant equal prize money for both men’s and women’s teams in ICC events.
This development arrives on the heels of an exceptionally successful 18 months for South Africa’s national women’s cricket team. The team reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2022 and reached the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup when hosting the event earlier this year. This marked the first instance of a senior South African team making it to the final of a World Cup.
Prominent figures from cricket across the nation convened in Tshwane on Tuesday to unveil comprehensive updates to the domestic women’s cricket structure. Notably, both male and female players will now receive equal match fees for international matches, further cementing South Africa’s commitment to gender equality in sports.
As part of the changes, teams participating in South Africa’s domestic competition can now contract up to 11 players, a significant increase from the previous limit of six. Additionally, teams can augment their support staff with more full-time coaches, further enhancing the development of women’s cricket.
Pholetsi Moseki, CEO of Cricket South Africa, emphasized that these changes signify a significant stride in building upon the legacy established by hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. He highlighted the positive impact on women’s cricket growth in the country.
Moseki shared, “The introduction of the Professional Women’s Cricket League is a momentous initiative that celebrates the exceptional achievements of our national women’s cricket team and sets the stage for an even brighter future.”
He added, “Professionalizing the women’s domestic structure aims to elevate the women’s cricket landscape by providing a platform for local talent to shine, cultivating a culture of sporting excellence, and inspiring the next generation of players.”
Moseki emphasized the support from fans, players, and sponsors for the professionalization of women’s cricket. He called on brands to continue endorsing women’s cricket and recognizing the league’s potential to reshape perceptions about women in sports within the country.
The new match fee parity for South Africa’s women’s cricketers will come into effect next month during their six-match white-ball tour against Pakistan. The tour comprises three T20Is in Karachi from September 1 and three 50-over contests in the same city from September 8.
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