In a groundbreaking move for women’s sports in South Africa, cricket has taken a historic step towards gender equality. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced that women’s international players will now earn the same match fees as their male counterparts, while the women’s domestic leagues will transition into a professional setup. With these changes, CSA joins a select group of national boards, including New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to offer pay parity on match days.
This landmark decision will come into effect during South Africa’s upcoming ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in Karachi, starting from September 1. Additionally, a professional league for women’s cricket is on the horizon for the 2023/24 season. This move is set to increase CSA’s expenses by approximately USD 2.13 million over the next three years, with a portion of that cost covered by government funds.
The proposed professional league will include the top division of six out of the 16 existing women’s provincial teams. These teams, namely the Lions, Titans, Western Province, Dolphins, Free State, and Garden Route Badgers, will compete in both white-ball formats, with monetary rewards for the winners. Furthermore, each of these teams will be able to contract 11 players, a significant increase from the current six-player limit. Salaries for these players will be equivalent to the highest-paid players in the second division of men’s cricket.
To ensure the professional league’s success, CSA plans to provide adequate support staff for each team. This will include a head coach, an assistant coach, a physiotherapist, and a strength and conditioning specialist. Importantly, at least half of the support staff members will be women, further promoting gender diversity in cricket.
This groundbreaking decision places cricket at the forefront of gender equality in South African sports. No other team sport in the country currently offers such levels of parity and professionalization for women athletes. Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa applauded CSA’s leadership and commitment to promoting women’s sports, expressing hope that other sports federations would follow suit.
While other sports in South Africa have faced challenges and criticisms regarding gender equality and professionalism, cricket’s move to provide equal match fees and establish a professional league is commendable. It sends a powerful message of inclusivity and sets a positive precedent for the growth and recognition of women’s sports in the nation.
This significant development coincides with recent achievements in women’s cricket on the international stage. South Africa’s women’s cricket team reached the final of the T20 World Cup hosted in the country in February, showcasing their talent and dedication. The focus on women’s sports in South Africa has been on the rise, with events like the netball World Cup and football World Cup garnering attention and support.
While challenges and disparities may persist in various sports, cricket’s initiative to bridge the gender pay gap and create a professional league is a step in the right direction, symbolizing a more equitable future for women athletes in the country.
