IN A landmark decision, the BCCI on Thursday announced equal match fee for its centrally-contracted female and male players in a bid to promote gender equality in the country’s most popular sport.

As per the newly introduced system, the Indian women’s cricketers will now receive Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I, the same as their male counterparts. Earlier, the women players received Rs one lakh each for ODIs and T20Is while the match fee for a Test match was Rs four lakh. The decision was taken at the BCCI Apex Council. BCCI President Roger Binny said, “This decision sets the platform to grow and develop cricket. I believe this is a significant step forward for women’s cricket and the game overall.”