Women’s Cricket World Cup prize money hits record $13.88m

ICC – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) -The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a huge increase in prize money for the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup. The event will be held in India and Sri Lanka, starting on September 30. This exciting news means more support and recognition for women cricketers worldwide.

Pakistan will play its matches in Sri Lanka. This decision comes after India chose not to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year. A special “hybrid model” was agreed upon to ensure everyone could participate fairly.

The total prize money for the tournament is now $13.88 million. This is a massive 297% increase from the $3.5 million offered in the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand. Incredibly, this prize pool is even larger than the $10 million awarded at the Men’s Cricket World Cup in India two years ago.

The ICC stated that this move is part of its plan to grow women’s cricket. It follows the decision to introduce equal pay, which was announced before the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024. This step aims to make the sport fairer and more rewarding for female athletes.

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The winning team will receive $4.48 million, which is a 239% increase from the $1.32 million Australia won in 2022. The runners-up will get $2.24 million, a 273% rise from the $600,000 England received last time. Even the semi-finalists will earn $1.12 million each, up from $300,000 in 2022.

Every team that plays in the group stage is guaranteed $250,000. Additionally, for every match won during this stage, teams will earn an extra $34,314. This rewards not just final success but also strong performance throughout the tournament.

Teams finishing fifth and sixth will each receive $700,000. Those ending in seventh and eighth place will still earn a respectable $280,000. This ensures all participating teams are rewarded for their efforts.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah called this a “defining milestone” for women’s cricket. He emphasized that this fourfold increase in prize money shows a clear commitment to the long-term growth of the women’s game. This move aims to inspire both players and fans around the world.

Mr. Shah also highlighted the upward trajectory of women’s cricket. He expressed confidence that this step will accelerate its momentum. Finally, he called on all stakeholders—fans, media, partners, and Member Boards—to champion the women’s game and ensure it gets the recognition and respect it deserves.