CEO Heath Mills of the NZCPA was thrilled that the professional men’s and female athletes now share the same agreement.
In a groundbreaking new contract, women and men will be paid the same amount for representing New Zealand and participating in top-tier domestic matches. Following a historic agreement, professional women’s and men’s cricketers in New Zealand will receive the same pay for the same play. The White Ferns and domestic women’s players will receive the same match fees as men for the next five years in all formats and competitions, including ODIs, T20Is, Ford Trophy, and Dream11 Super Smash level, according to the agreement.
Increased contract opportunities for women cricketers in New Zealand and more competitive matches for young players are two further benefits of the arrangement. Sophie Devine, the captain of the New Zealand women’s cricket team, called the pact a game-changer for women’s cricket.
“It’s excellent that women’s international and domestic players are recognized in the same agreement, alongside the men,” Devine said in an official statement provided by New Zealand Cricket.
Young ladies and girls will be attracted to it since it’s a major step forward.
Adding to the excitement, men’s team captain Kane Williamson of New Zealand said the sport is in an exciting period.
“All players, men, and women, at all levels, must work to build on those who have come before us and help support the next generation of athletes. This deal goes a great way toward accomplishing that goal, however “Williamson said.
The overall number of women’s domestic contracts has increased from 54 to 72 as a result of the agreement. The annual contracts for domestic ladies will also be increased from nine to twelve for each team.
North-South women’s series for budding international players will also be implemented in the future. Additionally, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and six Major Associations have pledged additional funding for the community game.
The contract will help New Zealand’s professional men’s players, who will receive larger retainers based on the increased number of matches, formats contested, and training and playing time they devote to the sport.
The top-ranked Black Caps player can now receive a maximum of $523,396 (up from $459,574), the 10th-ranked $444,196 (up from $377,981), and the 20th-ranked $367,196 (up from $305,453) on current levels of competition.
Also in line to receive a maximum of $102,707 (up from $94,437) is the eighth-ranked domestic men’s player in each Major League (up from $78,357) and the 16th-ranked domestic men’s player (up from $64,406).
Cricket in New Zealand has made significant progress since the signing of the first joint agreement, according to NZC chief executive David White.
Thank you and congratulate the athletes and major leagues for their contributions to this accord,” he added.
“NZC, the Major Associations, and our players are all bound together by this agreement, which establishes the foundation for cricket’s growth and development. Collaborative but tough negotiations have taken place. As we increase our financial support for women’s cricket, this is an important step forward “he stated.
NZC and the six Major Associations, according to White, have also committed to further funding in the community game during the equivalent five-year term.
Heath Mills, CEO of the NZCPA, was overjoyed that the pact now encompassed both men’s and women’s professional athletes.
“All of our players are happy to have signed a single contract that covers them all. Increased investment in personal development and wellness programs is essential to the success of the players under the new deal “he stated.
As he said, “to accomplish such an important agreement in the manner we’ve speaks volumes of the spirit of the collaboration.
As one of the Major Associations’ representatives, Northern Districts CEO Ben MacCormack emphasized the importance of increasing domestic game funding.
“We couldn’t be happier. For the sake of our women’s cricketers, it was imperative that we made a further step toward encouraging domestic players “he stated.
This is a great moment for cricket in this country and we’re absolutely pleased for both sets of domestic players in terms of the success they’ve achieved,” he continued.
