In News:

• In a significant decision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a pay equity policy, saying that its centrally-contracted men and women players would get the same match fees.
• With this, India has become the second country in international cricket to implement equal pay.
  • Earlier this year, New Zealand Cricket had announced equal match fees for its women players.

What’s in today’s article:

• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – About, role, status
• News Summary

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

• BCCI is the central body that governs over Indian Cricket. The board was founded in the year 1928 with 6 regional cricket associations as its first members.
  • Today it has 30 full-time members, and is worth Rs 3,308 crore.
• It was established with a vision to control and develop the sport of Cricket in India.
• The BCCI headquarters are located in the famous Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Role Of BCCI

• The role of BCCI is to regulate and overlook the growth and development of everything related to Indian Cricket.
• The cricket board has set rules and regulations in its constitution that behave as guidelines for the National team.
  • The board decides where the national team will play and with whom.
  • It looks over the development of the national team and youth teams.
  • It controls the IPL and various domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Challenger series are conducted by state associations in consultation with the BCCI.
• Another role of BCCI is the granting of media rights and sponsors.

Status of BCCI

• The BCCI is an autonomous, private organisation and does not fall under the purview of the National Sports Federation of India.
• It is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and hence it considers itself as a private body.

News Summary

• BCCI announces the implementation of a pay equity policy for contracted Indian women cricketers.
• With this announcement, the match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same.

Key Highlights

• 
• This means the women players will now get Rs 15 lakh per Test match, Rs 6 lakh for a One-Day International (ODI), and Rs 3 lakh for a T20 International.
  • Till now, they were paid Rs 1 lakh for a white-ball match, and Rs 4 lakh for a Test.
• However, the annual retainership for women cricketers remains the same — Rs 50 lakh for Grade A, Rs 30 lakh for Grade B and Rs 10 lakh for Grade C.
  • The men, who play more games, are paid Rs 1-7 crore, depending on their grade.