Reasons Why Indian Women Cricketers Are Allowed to Play Different Foreign Leagues but Men Are Not
In recent years, the cricketing landscape has seen a noticeable divergence in policies regarding Indian cricketers’ participation in foreign leagues. While Indian women cricketers are permitted to play in international leagues like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia and The Hundred in England, their male counterparts are restricted from participating in foreign T20 competitions. This distinction arises from a combination of strategic, commercial, and developmental considerations by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Let’s look at some of the reasons why the BCCI has separate standards for men and women cricketers
Development and Exposure for Women’s Cricket
Women’s cricket is still in a developing phase compared to men’s cricket, particularly in terms of viewership, sponsorship, and overall growth. Allowing Indian women cricketers to play in foreign leagues like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia or The Hundred in England helps them gain valuable experience and exposure. This exposure is crucial for the growth of women’s cricket in India, as it helps players improve their skills, understand different playing conditions, and learn from international teammates.
By playing alongside and against some of the best international players, Indian women cricketers can elevate their game, making them more competitive on the global stage. This experience is invaluable for the Indian women’s national team, helping them perform better in international tournaments.
Commercial Interests and Contracts for Men’s Cricket
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most lucrative and popular cricket leagues globally. The BCCI has a vested interest in maintaining the exclusivity of the IPL by restricting Indian male cricketers from participating in other foreign T20 leagues. This exclusivity ensures that the IPL remains the primary focus for both players and fans, maintaining its dominance in the cricket world and maximizing its commercial success.
Restricting male cricketers from playing in foreign leagues helps the BCCI manage player workload and reduce the risk of injuries. Indian male cricketers have a packed schedule with international fixtures and the IPL, so adding more leagues could lead to burnout and affect their performance for the national team.
Contractual Obligations and Central Contracts
The BCCI provides central contracts to both men and women cricketers, but the contracts for women are significantly lower than those for men.
| Contract Grade | Men’s Contracts | Women’s Contracts | Percentage Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A | INR 7 crore | INR 50 lakh | 1,300% |
| Grade B | INR 5 crore | INR 30 lakh | 1,567% |
| Grade C | INR 3 crore | INR 10 lakh | 2,900% |
| Grade D | INR 1 crore | N/A | N/A |
Due to these differences in central contracts, male cricketers have a more substantial financial commitment to the BCCI. This higher level of compensation reflects the board’s interest in keeping male players focused on domestic and international duties, including the Indian Premier League (IPL). In contrast, the relatively lower contracts for women allow more flexibility for them to explore playing opportunities in foreign leagues, which can be essential for their development and exposure.
Market Dynamics and Viewership
Allowing women cricketers to play in foreign leagues helps build the market for women’s cricket in India. As these players gain international experience and become more popular, they attract more viewership and interest back home, which can help grow the domestic women’s cricket ecosystem.
Men’s cricket in India is already well-established, with a massive fan base and significant commercial investments. Restricting Indian male players to the IPL helps sustain this market, ensuring that fan engagement and sponsorships remain concentrated around Indian cricket and the IPL.
Strategic Control and Influence
By restricting male players from foreign leagues, the BCCI maintains greater control over the players’ schedules and the strategic direction of Indian cricket. This control is seen as important for ensuring that Indian cricket priorities are not compromised by conflicting commitments in foreign leagues.
Allowing women players to participate abroad can be seen as a way to eventually strengthen India’s domestic women’s league, the Women’s Premier League (WPL), by bringing back experiences and skills learned overseas. For men, the focus remains on promoting and maintaining the prestige of the IPL as the premier T20 league in the world.
