Pay boost for women, but equality still elusive

Step into the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, and the contrast is striking. Rows of sleek cars gleam in the parking lot -- most owned by men's national cricketers, board directors, coaches, and staff. Among them, there's barely a sign of a car belonging to a woman cricketer. The scene reflects a reality that speaks louder than any statistic.

Even after years of representing the country, most women cricketers cannot afford to enjoy the comforts that male counterparts take for granted.

Recently, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 35 percent pay rise for women's cricketers and aligned their daily allowances and tour fees with the men's team. Players in four categories will now earn Tk 80,000–Tk 1,60,000 a month. The BCB also expanded the women's national contract list from 30 to 35, though monthly salaries remain Tk 30,000. By contrast, 21 male national cricketers earn between Tk two lakh and Tk 10 lakh, while another 100 first-class players take home Tk 30,000–40,000.

** A total of 21 male cricketers and 15 female cricketers are currently under the BCB's central contract.

** While there are three categories -- A, B, and C -- with monthly salaries of Tk 40,000, Tk 35,000, and Tk 30,000, respectively, for the 100 nationally contracted male cricketers, the 35 female cricketers under national contract are not categorised and receive Tk 30,000 per month.

** In the recent NCL T20, male cricketers received Tk 40,000 as match fee, whereas in the last women's NCL, players received only Tk 3,000.

** Recently, the BCB equalled the day allowance and tour fee for male and female cricketers. From now on, both will receive USD 75 as day allowance and USD 50 as tour fee per day during international assignments, except during ICC and ACC events.

** In last year's women's DPL, many female cricketers did not receive the promised remuneration from their respective clubs. A few top players earned around Tk 9-10 lakh, while some others reportedly played for wages of around Tk 20-30 thousand.

Pay disparity is not unique to Bangladesh, but boards in India, Australia, and New Zealand already offer equal match fees. In Bangladesh, men earn Tk 2 lakh–Tk 8 lakh per international match, compared to Tk 50,000–Tk 1 lakh for women.

The BCB deserves credit for progress, but the scenario is far from ideal. Women's wing chairman and former national spinner Abdur Razzak had informed The Daily Star that they aim to "increase match fees gradually".

For many players, survival remains the pressing concern. One who lost her central contract after two years admitted thinking of quitting. She described earnings that are "barely enough to survive".

Limited matches make things worse. "In domestic cricket, it's even worse -- the men's cricketers got Tk 40,000 per match in the NCL T20 this year, while we got Tk 3,000 last year," she added.

Women's cricket in Bangladesh still operates in the men's shadow, often receiving venues, facilities, and schedules only after men's programmes are finalised, stunting a team that, despite limited resources, had presented the nation a first-ever major trophy with the 2018 Asia Cup.

Since then, India -- runners-up then -- have just won their first World Cup, while the Tigresses remain in transition, still fighting for opportunities, recognition, and a fair share of the game's rewards.