After announcing that both male and female cricket players will get the same match fees for international matches, South Africa became the most recent nation to provide equal compensation for work done by both sexes.
The Proteas follow the historic statement from the ICC earlier this year that saw equal prize money for men’s and women’s teams at ICC tournaments. The Proteas join New Zealand and India as nations who have previously confirmed pay equity across the genders.
The most recent information from South Africa follows a highly successful 18 months for the national women’s team, which included them making it all the way to the final when hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at the beginning of this year and reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2022.
Leading figures in cricket from across South Africa gathered in Tshwane on Tuesday to announce an updated structure for their domestic women’s competition and equal pay for both male and female players at the international level. It was the first time ever that a senior South African team had reached the final of a World Cup.
In addition to being able to hire more full-time coaches and support personnel, teams in South Africa’s domestic tournament will now be permitted to sign up to 11 players, five more than the previous limit of six.
Pholetsi Moseki, CEO of Cricket South Africa, said that the reforms are a crucial step toward building on the legacy left by hosting the T20 World Cup earlier this year and would contribute to the expansion of women’s cricket in the nation.
The Professional Women’s Cricket League, an initiative that honors the outstanding accomplishments of our national women’s cricket team and sets the way for an even brighter future, was announced by Moseki. “We are thrilled to do so,” she said.
The professionalization of the domestic women’s structure strives to improve the status of women’s cricket by giving homegrown athletes a chance to succeed, encouraging a culture of sports excellence, and motivating the next generation of athletes.
“We feel that local talent will benefit from South African cricket’s success on the international level, as it will nurture development, resiliency, and a strong passion for the game.
The idea of professionalizing the domestic system for women has been enthusiastically received by sponsors, players, and fans alike. Given that the league has the ability to change the perception of women in sports in the nation, we urge sponsors to continue supporting women’s cricket.
Next month, when South Africa’s women’s cricket team travels to Pakistan for a six-match white-ball series against the Asian team, the new match costs will go into effect.
Beginning on September 1, South Africa will play three Twenty20 Internationals in Karachi. On September 8, they will play three 50-over matches in the same city.