The Hundred | ECB reconsiders ticket refund policy after social media outrage against gender disparity

The England and Wales Cricket Board started The Hundred as a project to promote gender equality in the game of cricket with eight teams of both the men’s and women’s teams representing the same franchise were formed to start off the competition. 

The matches of both the men’s and women’s teams of the franchises were also to be played on the same day. However, a refund policy of the tickets of games has caused few eyebrows to be raised regarding the gender parity commitment of the board. 

According to The Hundred’s ticketing policy is such that both men’s and women’s games could be watched on the same ticket. However, if the men’s game is abandoned/cancelled due to any reason, the ticket holder receives a full refund even if she/he has watched the full women’s game. However, if the women’s game is cancelled/ abandoned and the men’s game goes to completion, there is no refund for the ticket holder. 

Former Middlesex Women’s captain turned journalist Isabelle Westbury didn’t like this concept and said that it was an oversight by the ECB which must be corrected.  

After her article in The Guardian, an ECB office-bearer clarified that the policy would be reconsidered. “With the women’s competition securing amazing support from fans, we need to consider if our current approach is now the appropriate one.”

It is important to know that the game between Manchester Originals Women and Oval Invincibles Women, Also, the opening game of the 100 ball tournament became the most-watched Women’s game on BBC, while the game between London Spirit Women and Ovgal Invincibles Women played at iconic Lord’s was attended by more than 13,537 people making it the match with the highest attendance for a domestic Women’s game in the history of cricket.