ICC announces equal prize money for men's and women's events

Other changes confirmed at the annual conference include "significantly enhanced funding" for every ICC member nation and reduced slow over-rate penalties in Test cricket

Men's and women's teams will receive equal prize money at ICC events, the governing body has confirmed.

Teams will get the same amount of money when they finish in equivalent positions at comparable events, as well as the same amount for winning matches.

The ICC had planned to achieve prize money parity by 2030, with this announcement coming well ahead of schedule.  

Prize money in women's cricket has been on the up over the past few years. At the 2020 and 2023 Women's T20 World Cups, for example, the winners and runners-up received $1million (£760,000) and $500,000 (£380,000), respectively, which was five times the amount received in 2018.

ICC chair, Greg Barclay, said: "This is a significant moment in the history of our sport and I am delighted that men's and women's cricketers competing at ICC global events will now be rewarded equally.

^{Women's teams will receive the same money as men's teams at ICC events [Cameron Spencer/Getty Images]}

"Since 2017 we have increased prize money at women's events every year with a clear focus on reaching equal prize money and from here on in, winning the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup will carry the same prize money as winning the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the same for T20 World Cups and U19s too.

"Cricket is genuinely a sport for all and this decision from the ICC board reinforces that and enables us to celebrate and value every single player's contribution to the game equally."

The ICC also confirmed "significantly enhanced funding" for every member nation over the next four years, with Barclay describing its potential as "once in a generation".

"The success of our media rights and commercial programme for our next four-year cycle means we are able to invest more money than ever before into our sport," said Barclay.

"All members will receive a base distribution and then additional revenue will be in relation to contribution to the global game both on and off the field.

^{Player fines for slow over-rates in Test cricket have been reduced [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

"This is by far the largest level of investment ever to go into cricket and it's a once in a generation opportunity for our members to accelerate growth and engage more players and fans and drive competitiveness."

Meanwhile, new penalties for slow over-rates in Test cricket have been approved, with players now fined five per cent of their match fee for every over they are short, up to a maximum of 50 per cent. This is down from 20 per cent per over, with no upper limit.

If a team is bowled out before 80 overs have been completed, no penalty will be applied.

These changes have been backdated to the start of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, which began with the ongoing Men's Ashes series.

These changes "balance the need for over-rates to be maintained and ensure players are appropriately renumerated", with ICC men's cricket committee chair, Sourav Ganguly, stating: "The committee felt strongly that over-rate penalties in the form of WTC points deductions should remain but recommended that players should not have 100 per cent of their match at risk."