ECB announces increase in funding for women's domestic matches
England Women in action [Source: Twitter]
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday (October 28) announced a £3.5m increase in the funding for the women's domestic matches until 2024.
The development will now enhance the number of professional players with contracts at the regional level. Furthermore, players' average salary is also set to increase, which will, in turn, help the game's growth at the grassroots level.
According to the report by ECB, the number of professional players funded by the board will now increase to seven per region from November 1. The figure is expected to increase to 10 by February 1, 2023.
Further, there will be 80 funded ECB contracts from February next year; double the number witnessed in 2020. The average salary of a women's cricketer at the regional level will now be £25,000.
There has been an increase in the staff's salaries and strength, with a particular focus on science and medicine provision.
ECB Interim Chief Executive Officer Clare Connor thinks the announcement is the right step towards making women's cricket an equitable future. Connor added that the young girls can now set their eyes on a professional cricket career.
Here's what Mrs Connor stated
“The significant increase in funding we are announcing today will not only continue to drive the performance standards of our domestic players across England and Wales, giving the women’s game more strength in depth, but critically we are creating a more equitable future for women and girls in our sport,
"Young girls have a clearer pathway in cricket than ever before, and the belief that they too can aspire to be professional cricketers."
Earlier on Thursday, BCCI had announced a move for the same match fee for the men and women's players, which was lauded by the cricket fraternity.