Anjum Chopra Opens Up On Pay Parity In Indian Cricket

Legendary Indian women’s cricketer, Anjum Chopra stated that it is unfair by the Indian women’s cricket team to ask for equal pay as the men’s team. There is a huge disparity between the salaries of India’s male and female cricketers but former India skipper Anjum Chopra believes it is unfair to ask for equal pay for the women cricketers as their men counterparts because the latter have not won a World Cup yet.

While Australia have bridged the pay gap between their women and men’s cricketers, there still exists a stark contrast between the earnings of the two national teams in India.

Cricket Australia (CA) had ensured earlier that they would top up any prize money won by the Australian women’s cricket team at the T20 World Cup, to ensure parity with the men’s equivalent winnings.

Anjum Chopra Ridicules Indian Womens’ Equal Pay Demand

Speaking to Indiatoday.in about the gender pay gap in Indian cricket, Anjum Chopra said, “I do not know what this has become a discussion point in such a big manner because we must remember that Indian women’s team has never won a World Cup. Men’s team has.”

As per BCCI’s recent central contracts, Grade A women players receive Rs 50 lakh while Grade A men’s cricketers draw Rs 5 crore. The top bracket men cricketers who are in the A+ category earn Rs 7 crore.

Don’t Compare Yourselves With The Men’s Team: Anjum

Besides, Anjum said women’s cricketers should compare themselves to the best in their own gender, that is, the Australian team.

“First and foremost they should compare themselves to what the best women’s team in the world is getting-that is the Australian team. I think that will be a more fair assessment of comparison rather than being compared to men’s counterparts. Men’s cricket is the pinnacle because what Indian men’s team draws, I do not think any team in the world draws that, even men,” Anjum said.

The Indian women’s cricket team have missed on the World Cup trophy three times. The women’s team reached the T20 Word Cup final for the first time this year but lost to Australia in front of a record crowd at the MCG.

In the 50-over format, they have ended as runners-up twice–after losing to England in 2017 and Australia in 2015, who lifted the title for the 5th time.

Also Read: Umesh Yadav Opens Up On His Inconsistent Run With Team India