By Rohit - Mar 19, 2025 04:40 PM
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced an expansion in domestic contracts for women cricketers for the 2024-25 season. A total of 90 players will receive contracts, an increase from 79 in the previous season. The list comprises 10 capped players, 62 emerging players, and 18 Under-19 cricketers. However, while the number of contracts has risen, the financial compensation remains woefully inadequate.
Players will receive a monthly retainer of just PKR 35,000 (approx. USD 125), which is below the minimum wage for unskilled labor in Pakistan, set at PKR 37,000. The match fee, at PKR 20,000 (approx. USD 71), offers little relief, and players have reported a lack of daily allowances as well.
Despite PCB's stated objective of increasing opportunities for women in cricket, the financial support remains insufficient. Even if a player features in every possible match across the three domestic tournaments, their maximum potential earnings, including retainers and match fees, amount to just PKR 1,040,000 (approx. USD 3,700) per year. For those who do not make the playing XI, the match fee drops to PKR 10,000 (approx. USD 35) per game.
The financial burden of maintaining a professional athletic lifestyle—including personal training, diet, and equipment—can cost up to PKR 600,000 annually, a sum that most players cannot afford. This lack of investment in infrastructure and player development directly impacts the fitness and performance levels of Pakistani women cricketers.
The differences in domestic match fees are very large. Here are some examples:
Pakistan's approach to women's cricket contrasts sharply with other cricketing nations. Cricket Australia, with a comparable revenue share from the International Cricket Council (ICC), ensures that domestic women cricketers earn an average of USD 96,000 per year, nearly 25 times more than their Pakistani counterparts. Even boards with lower revenue shares, such as New Zealand Cricket, provide significantly better financial support, with domestic women cricketers earning a minimum of USD 11,000 annually. The disparity is further evident when comparing the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India, where the lowest-paid player earns INR 10 lakh (approx. USD 11,500) for a three-week tournament, while top domestic players earn up to INR 2 crore (approx. USD 230,500).
While PCB has increased its overall budget for women's cricket from PKR 70 million to PKR 240 million, there is little evidence of tangible improvements in pay structures or infrastructure. Meanwhile, men's domestic cricket in Pakistan enjoys significantly higher financial rewards, with Grade A contracted players receiving monthly retainers of PKR 550,000 (approx. USD 2,000) and match fees as high as PKR 200,000 (approx. USD 715) per game.
The challenges for Pakistani women in cricket extend beyond finances to include social barriers, inconsistent domestic structures, and lack of game time. PCB’s reluctance to offer competitive pay and infrastructure for women cricketers has left Pakistan’s women’s team struggling among the lowest-ranked Full Member teams. To foster growth and competitiveness, PCB must take decisive action by increasing retainers, offering consistent match fees, and investing in better facilities.
The success of women’s cricket globally highlights that financial and structural investment directly translates to better performance and broader participation. Without urgent reforms, Pakistan risks falling further behind in the rapidly evolving landscape of women's cricket.
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