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Nigar Sultana expresses her thoughts on the emotional impact of the 2024 T20 World Cup’s relocation from Bangladesh, emphasizing that it’s not just the players who feel the disappointment. Their families, friends, and loyal fans have also been deeply affected by this decision. Chamari Athapaththu and Heather Knight resonate with her sentiments, acknowledging the shared heartbreak among the cricketing community over the missed opportunity to host such a significant event in their home country.
Nigar Sultana Reflects on the Heartbreak of Relocation:
They understand the immense impact that hosting a home tournament can have on the growth and visibility of women’s sports. Heather Knight experienced this firsthand when she began her captaincy era in front of a packed crowd at Lord’s in 2017. More recently, Chamari Athapaththu led Sri Lanka to an impressive victory over their long-standing rivals, India, in front of a full house at Dambulla, shaking up what had been a lopsided rivalry.
The increased visibility from such victories is essential for the growth of women’s cricket. Tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup elevate the attention these players usually receive, as Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce highlighted in a press conference with all ten captains. This newfound spotlight not only showcases their talent but also provides a platform to address larger issues surrounding the governance and future of the women’s game.
England’s captain Heather Knight said, “I would say the men’s game is in a place where [calendars are] packed, there’s so much going on and the women’s game at the moment is in its infancy of the league [culture] starting. More depth is being created around the world. So I’d say we’re at a massive advantage if it’s governed properly to plot out what women’s cricket looks like and try and help it grow in a really good way rather than just be left to market forces.”
She further said, “ I’d love to see a bit of a plan to help shape women’s cricket over the next five to ten years because the men’s game has been left and is in a bit of a state of panel of issues and hopefully we’re at the point now where we’re at the start of that growth curve and can really help shape things.”
Knight Talked About Her Withdrawl from WPL for National Duties:
Australia captain Alyssa Healy, even as a rival on the field, couldn’t resist urging the room to refocus on the conversation. Her reminder cut through the distraction, drawing attention back to the crucial discussion at hand. Healy’s interjection emphasized the importance of keeping the spotlight on the vital issues surrounding women’s cricket and its future development.
This year, The Hundred and the Women’s Caribbean Premier League managed to sidestep a scheduling conflict, although the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is carving out a dedicated window a few months after the WBBL, the oldest of these tournaments. However, with the ICC Women’s Championship expanding, the growing number of international fixtures is making it harder to prevent overlaps in an already crowded calendar—though not as packed as the men’s circuit.
Even Heather Knight faced the strain of the busy schedule, withdrawing from the second WPL season with RCB due to national commitments. The increasing demands highlight the challenges of balancing league and international play in women’s cricket.
She said, “ Windows for sure… are really a key part of the franchise cricket of the game now and I think all players want the balance of being able to play both. The danger I guess is you lose players from international cricket because of the opportunities of franchise cricket but I think if it’s governed really well and the plan is set out, they can really thrive off each other and really push the women’s game forward.”
She added, “ You don’t want international cricket to suffer, you will both grow together. So I think windows would be a really good idea and finding ways to keep the best players in international cricket. You can just start to see a couple, understandably, go off because the pay disparity around the world is so big so you completely understand that. Making sure that all teams, not just teams that are strongly supported by their boards… in international cricket is allowed to continue to have the best players in it alongside the franchise cricket.”
Knight’s call follows Harmanpreet Kaur’s public push for more Test cricket and multi-team tournaments, such as the Champions Trophy, to be included in the women’s schedule. The T20 World Cup is already set to grow, expanding to 12 teams in the next edition and 16 by 2030, alongside the historic addition of cricket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Pakistani Women Cricketers Await Salaries for 4 Months, Sparking Concern
Sophie Devine Also Gave Her Input in the Conversation:
Sophie Devine, one of only six players to have competed in all nine T20 World Cups, has yet to experience a red-ball game in her 18-year international career. Aware of the ticking clock, she echoes Harmanpreet Kaur and Heather Knight’s calls for more structured and meaningful cricket, voicing her desire for greater opportunities in the longer format.
She said, “ I think it has a really relevant point in terms of keeping relevance in the international game.We all know how much pride we have in that country whether it’s World Caps or bilateral Series. I’d love to see the multi-format series come across all teams. That’s something that we’ve seen with the Ashes. We’ve seen it come with a few other teams now. I’d love to see that played across every country that’s playing. In the IWC, that’s a real opportunity, it levels the playing field, it gives more games.
She added, “ Hopefully you can get a second-tier in there as well so that countries that haven’t quite reached that top-tier [in the format] are given the same opportunities and the ability to promote, relegate.”
Chamari Athapaththu Talked About Equal Payment:
Bryce’s Scottish teammates, largely semi-professional, appreciate the limited income and exposure gained from English domestic competitions, giving them an opportunity to pursue cricket seriously. In contrast, Sri Lankan players earn monthly retainers between USD 340 and USD 1000 for 25 contracted players, which pales in comparison to their white-ball match fees of USD 750 plus a USD 250 bonus for a win.
Athapaththu firmly advocates for equal pay, asserting that the effort put in by women cricketers deserves the same financial recognition. She said, “ Definitely the payments and contracts. I heard a few countries have increased the women’s players’ contracts [and match fees] as well. I hope that all countries can do that for women’s cricket because I think this actually provides a lot of [security] for women’s cricketers. So we need that kind of appreciation from every cricket board in the world… I feel the women and men play in the same way, the approach is the same, so we need [similar monetary] appreciation from around the world.”
The ICC has made a groundbreaking move by announcing prize money equality for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, a significant leap forward in gender parity within the sport. While prize pools have steadily increased since 2016, this edition marks the first with equal rewards for both men’s and women’s teams, a full seven years ahead of the original 2030 target. The champions will take home a massive USD 2.34 million in Dubai.
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