New Delhi: In a groundbreaking move, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the upcoming ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2024 will feature equal prize money for both men and women. This decision marks a historic moment, as cricket becomes the first major team sport to offer gender-equal prize pools in its World Cup events. Winners of the Womens T20 World Cup will now receive $2.34 million, with the total prize fund amounting to $7.96 million, representing a 225% increase from last year.ICCs commitment to gender equalityThis landmark change was officially adopted at the ICC Annual Conference in July 2023, with the ICC Board deciding to implement prize money parity seven years ahead of its original target of 2030. By doing so, the ICC has taken a bold step in prioritizing the womens game and fostering its growth globally.The Womens T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on October 3, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will see the winners take home $2.34 million, a staggering 134% increase from the $1 million won by Australia in 2023. Similarly, the runners-up will be awarded $1.17 million, more than double the $500,000 offered last year.Here is the breakdown of who gets whatSemi-finalists who fall short of the final will receive $675,000 each, up from $210,000 in 2023. The overall prize pool of $7.96 million marks a significant jump from the previous years $2.45 million, reflecting the ICCs commitment to elevating womens cricket.In line with the ICCs strategy, teams will now earn equal prize money for similar finishing positions in corresponding mens and womens events. Additionally, the prize for each group stage win has been set at $31,154. Teams that do not advance to the semi-finals will share a pool of $1.35 million, distributed based on their group-stage rankings. The third and fourth-placed teams in each group will receive $270,000, while the fifth-placed teams will get $135,000. All participating teams are guaranteed a minimum payout of $112,500.Where does the price pool stands nowThis prize money increase mirrors the ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2022 prize pool, which stood at $3.5 million. The substantial financial boost aligns with the ICCs goal of encouraging the growth of the womens game, aiming to expand its influence and popularity by 2032.The ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2024 will kick off with a match between Bangladesh and Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. In a slight schedule adjustment, the doubleheader on October 5 in Sharjah will now see Australia take on Sri Lanka at 14:00, followed by Bangladesh facing England at 18:00 local time. Over the course of 23 matches, ten teams will battle it out across venues in Dubai and Sharjah to be crowned the champions.This move toward prize money equality marks a significant step in promoting fairness and gender equality in cricket. The ICCs decision sets a precedent not only for cricket but for all major sports, as it aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for female athletes.
