New Zealand men's and women's cricketers set to receive equal pay

In a historic move, New Zealand's men's and women's cricketers have inked a five-year deal with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), which will see both sets of players receive equal pay.

This deal enables the women players at domestic and international levels to receive the same match fees as their male counterparts across formats and competitions.

The number of women's domestic contracts have also increased from 54 to 72.

Male cricketers, however, will earn high retainers given the number of matches they play, the formats they feature in, and time spent in training and playing.

NZC Chief Executive David White said the deal would enable women's cricket to find more investments.

"This is the most important agreement in our sport, as it binds NZC, the major associations, and our players at the hip, and sets the foundation to fund, grow and develop cricket.

"It's been a collaborative yet very robust negotiation. Importantly, it represents a significant step forward as we continue to grow our investment in women's cricket," White explained.

Sophie Devine expressed her delight over this development and said it would draw more girls into the game.

"It's great for the international and domestic women players to be recognised in the same agreement, alongside the men. It's a massive step forward and will be a huge drawcard for young women and girls," the White Ferns captain said.

Kane Williamson, who leads the ICC World Test Champions, echoed similar views, calling this an exciting time for cricket in the country.

"It's really important for the current players to build on the legacy of those who have gone before us, and to support tomorrow's players, both men and women, at all levels. This agreement goes a long way towards achieving that," Williamson said.

More about the numbers part of the deal

Top-tier Kiwi players could now receive a maximum of $523,396, while the 10th-and-20th-ranked could rake in $444,196 and $367,196, respectively.

The highest-ranked men's players across the six associations in domestic cricket will also witness an increase in cash flow.

The most one is eligible for is $102,707, with $87,307 and $75,207 reserved for eighth-and-16-ranked player.

Given the massive pay gap, one can only hope other boards follow the same.