DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews and renowned all-rounder Deandra Dottin have praised the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) historic decision to offer equal prize money for men’s and women’s competitions, hailing it as a transformative moment for women’s cricket.
This monumental change will see the winners of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which ends on October 20, take home USD 2.34 million, while the runners-up will receive USD 1.17 million. The total prize pool has surged to USD 7.95 million, representing a 225% increase from the previous edition and making cricket the only major team sport to offer equal prize money across its men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments.
As the West Indies prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign against South Africa on Friday in Dubai, Matthews expressed her excitement over the ICC’s decision, underscoring its importance for the women’s game globally.
Respect on the game
“This puts a lot of respect on the game,” said Matthews. “As professional cricketers, we work as hard as the men, so receiving equal prize money is a huge step forward. It validates our efforts and passion. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of more positive changes for women’s cricket.”
Her views were echoed by Deandra Dottin, who is back in the West Indies squad after a two-year absence. Known for her powerful all-round game, Dottin welcomed the move, emphasizing how it reflects the growing recognition of women’s cricket worldwide.
“It’s great to see the ICC taking this step,” Dottin said. “It shows that women’s cricket is being taken seriously, and that’s a huge boost for players like us. We’ve always worked hard, and now we’re seeing tangible recognition for that effort. This is a major move in the right direction.”
